Storage-retrieval processes of normal and learning-disabled children: a stages-of-learning analysis of picture-word effects

Previous research comparing acquisition performance of learning-disabled and normally achieving children has led to the suggestion that the locus of memory differences lies in either the storage or retrieval components of recall. In this paper we report a free-recall experiment in which a new stages-of-learning model was used to examine the effects of a picture-word manipulation on storage and retrieval differences between nondisabled and disabled grade 2 and 6 children. Although the results of this experiment were consistent with the idea that disabled students are poorer at memory tasks than nondisabled students, the stages-of-learning analysis provided information regarding the precise locus of the deficiencies. Specifically, although disabled and nondisabled children benefited from the presentation of information in pictorial format, normally achieving children were consistently better than their learning-disabled counterparts at storing and learning to retrieve both pictures and words. From a developmental standpoint, the most important finding was that while differences between learning-disabled and normally achieving students at storage remained age invariant, differences in learning to retrieve increased with age. As it turned out, however, differences between disabled and nondisabled children were absent when it came to retaining traces once they had been stored in memory and in retrieval performance between the time a trace was stored and retrieval learning was complete. These results are consistent with previous research in which it has been shown that the ability to learn how to reliably retrieve information that has been stored in memory develops more slowly for disabled than nondisabled children.     

Learning disabilities and psychological development in childhood and adolescence

The relationship between learning disabilities and psychological development is a complex, ongoing intrapsychic and psychosocial process. The results of two clinical-psychological investigations about a group of learning-disabled children and a group of learning-disabled adolescents is summarized. Although the learning-disabled youngsters were psychologically more heterogeneous than homogeneous, several common configurations emerged that characterized these children and adolescents: (1) problems in work and learning (due to the learning disability itself and to psychogenic factors related directly and/or indirectly to the disability); (2) chronic, low-level depression and relatively high, free floating anxiety; (3) characteristic unconscious concerns about self and others. In addition, learning disabilities organize psychological development in determining strengths, weaknesses, interests, and defensive strategies. And, the intermittent nature of mild to moderately severe learning disabilities seems to contribute to a sense of being traumatized and to character riqidity. The educational and clinical implications are briefly discussed.     

Hemispheric processing and cognitive styles in learning-disabled and normal children.

A paradigm of specialized brain hemisphere processing abilities was used to test cognitive skills and cognitive style in "learning-disabled" (LD) and "normal" children. Results indicate that (1) verbal ability is not a unitary factor, and LD children are deficient in only some aspects of verbal ability; (2) the LD group perform as well as the control group on right-hemisphere tests; (3) LD boys are more field sensitive (field dependent) than the control boys; (4) LD children may be attempting to use a nonverbal information processing mode to deal with academic tasks. The need for information on nonverbal processing skills in order to aid verbal processing is discussed.     

Verbal coding deficits in learning-disabled readers: A multiple stage model

This article reviews some selected literature, drawn from the last 10 years, suggesting that learning-disabled (LD) readers have functionallyindependent visual and verbal coding systems. The review focuses on studies where it has been shown that learning-disabled readers fail to effectively establish visual and verbal coding interconnections, which in turn impairs their episodic memory for visual information. It is hypothesized that this faulty interconnection is manifested by verbal codes failing to adequately provide an additive component to enhance the recall of visual information. The article reviews some data supporting this hypothesis, as well as extending the hypothesis by suggesting that a deficient lexical system may contribute to disabled readers' independent coding operations on a picture-naming task. The research is organized within a tentative model which assumes that there are at least three distinct information-processing stages (modality-specific, semantic, and lexical processing) that play an important role in disabled readers' processing of visual information.     

Effects of Visual and Phonological Distinctness on Visual–verbal Paired Associate Learning in Dutch Dyslexic and Normal Readers

In three studies, the effects of visual and phonological distinctness on the visual–verbal paired associate learning of dyslexic and normal readers at the age of 10–12 were examined. We hypothesized that both groups would be equally affected by the visual distinctness of the pictures, whereas the learning performance of the dyslexic children would be more susceptible to the phonological distinctness of the verbal stimuli (words). As expected, in Study 1 we found that the visual distinctness of pictures had a similar effect on both groups. However, the results of Studies 2 and 3 on the effect of phonological distinctness did not support the hypothesis. Both reader groups were equally affected by the phonological distinctness of the words. In addition, we found that, although not consistently, dyslexic children tended to be worse in verbal learning, which could to a large extent be explained by their problems with phonological processing.     

天才学习不良学生的评估与诊断

对天才学习不良学生的评估需要同时考虑天才与学习不良的标准,但由于天才学习不良的定义本身不清晰,使得对它的鉴定缺乏明确的标准。已有研究提出的标准主要涉及天才、能力一成绩差异和加工能力缺陷三个方面。目前对天才学习不良学生的鉴定主要是理论层面的探讨,实践研究很少。多数的研究主张综合运用多种方法来鉴定天才学习不良群体。未来的研究应集合天才领域与学习不良领域的专家,将对天才学习不良学生的诊断与干预结合起来,更好地为这一群体提供需要的服务。     

Communication competence in reading and learning disabilities

Conclusion The evidence indicates that learning-disabled children show pervasive and enduring language problems across a wide variety of language tasks. The studies suggest that the problems experienced by learning and reading-disabled children may fall into the categories of phonology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics as well as nonverbal communication. In terms of nonverbal communication, these children are less accurate in interpreting nonverbal auditory and visual cues. In phonology, it appears that they are less skilled in detecting the segments of single words and thus have difficulty establishing phoneme to grapheme correspondence. In the area of syntax, learning-disabled males are less skilled in dealing with inflection and the comprehension and creation of complex sentences. In semantics, they are less adequate than nondisabled children in defining words, creating sentences, and classifying objects into categories. They show less adequate sentence production, are less skilled at recognizing their errors, and are significantly slower in generating verbal responses. Finally, there is one study that suggests that learning-disabled children may be discriminated by their use of language in social situations. This paper was presented at the 29th Annual Conference of The Orton Society at Minneapolis, November, 1978.     

INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES AND GROUP WORK IN THE US INCLUSIVE HIGH SCHOOL CO-TAUGHT SCIENCE CLASS

In the US, there is a significant number of learning-disabled high school students included in regular science classrooms. It has been argued that students with learning disabilities can succeed in science if they receive the kind of instruction they need. To facilitate such instruction, the special education teacher is often incorporated into the class along with the learning disabled students. We observed 53 high school science lessons from ten pairs of science and special-education teachers who were responsible for delivering instruction to groups of students, some of whom were learning-disabled. We analyzed narrative notes collected in these lessons reflecting the kinds of classroom activities, organization of work, and teachers’ roles. In addition, we interviewed the teachers individually to gain a better understanding of these inclusive classes. The underlying question of this research was whether inclusive classes with two teachers delivered the type of science education that is better than solo-teaching in addressing the needs of learning-disabled students. Our evidence indicates that even with a special-education teacher present in the class, learning-disabled students usually did not receive a science education that met their needs. We elaborate on the reasons for this problem and make suggestions for improvement.     

Learning disabilities: A piagetian perspective

Research findings in learning disabilities based on Piaget's theory were reviewed. Superimposing the findings of research on Piagetian stages of cognitive development, it appears that during the sensorimotor stage the diagnosis of learning disabilities is difficult. The research findings suggest that there is a delay in cognitive development of learning-disabled children during elementary school years, which corresponds to preoperational, concrete operational, and transition to formal operational stages. From a genetic epistemological perspective, research evidence supports a “developmental lag” approach to learning disabilities. Implications for assessment, curriculum planning, and education are discussed.     

The adult outcomes of children with learning disabilities

The results of four follow-up studies of learning-disabled children are reviewed. A comparison of results among the studies and of analyses of individual variation within the studies suggest some factors associated with long-term outcomes. It is argued that in many cases learning disabilities are not a lifelong handicapping condition, especially if adequate treatment is provided during childhood.     

The long-term stability of WISC-R scores in mildly retarded and learning-disabled children

This study addresses the need for systematic longitudinal research documenting the stability of WISC-R scores in special education populations. WISC-R scores of 100 learning-disabled and 60 mildly retarded children retested on three separate occasions at three-year intervals were examined. The stability of WISC-R scores was evaluated according to three different criteria: (a) the consistency of group means over time, (b) the frequency of significant changes in individual scores, and (c) correlations between administrations as an index of stability of subjects' relative positions in the group. Different results were obtained depending on the criterion considered. Examination of group means and correlation coefficients indicated that Full Scale IQ was fairly stable over a period of six years for both learning-disabled and mildly retarded samples. However, greater variability was noted when examining the frequency of changes in individual subject's scores. Verbal IQ and Performance IQ demonstrated somewhat more variability by all criteria examined. The implications of these results with regard to the importance assigned to IQ in special education classification decisions, the usefulness of retesting IQ in three-year reevaluations, and the efficacy of special education are discussed.     

The influence of coping strategies on the manifestation of learned helplessness

Thirty learning-disabled and 30 normally achieving fourth-grade boys experienced failure on a problem-solving task, following which they received either tutor-assistance or self-instructional training to induce success in coping with failure, or a no-training condition. Training effects were assessed on a subsequent problem-solving task and a measure of continuing motivation. Tutor-assistance training was more effective than self-instructional training for decreasing the number of problems on which learning-disabled boys gave up prior to solution. Compared with their untrained controls, learning-disabled boys with tutor-assistance training gave up less often and solved more problems. Continuing motivation increased with learning-disabled boys who received tutor-assistance training and normally achieving boys without training. Untrained normal achievers attributed failure to adoption of specific task strategies, while untrained learning-disabled boys attributed failure to task difficulty. It was suggested that characteristics of learned helplessness were apparent in the impaired performance of the learning-disabled boys. Normal achievers appeared to have developed active and independent strategies for coping with failure.     

Interpreting WISC-R and McCarthy scatter: A caution

In this investigation, indices of scatter on the WISC-R and McCarthy Scales were examined for 20 educable mentally retarded and 20 learning disabled children in relation to a similar control group. The scatter found in the two exceptional samples was also compared to the variability found in the standardization samples of the WISC-R and McCarthy. Results indicated that the learning-disabled sample exhibited more WISC-R subtest scatter and McCarthy Scale variability than the standardization sample but not more than the control group. The implications of these findings are discussed.     

Acquisition of inductive biconditional reasoning skills: Training of simultaneous and sequential processing

One hundred forty-four 10th-grade students received training on one of three processing methods: coding-mapping (simultaneous), coding only, or decision tree (sequential). Then they learned a biconditional rule under one of eight transfer test conditions based on a 2 (paradigm: rule vs complete learning) × 2 (memory aids: 0 vs 4) × 2 (focus instance: presence vs absence) design. Although the coding-mapping students processed concept instances in much the same way as the coding-only students, they acquired the target rule more frequently, and they processed instances more quickly and more consistently than the decision-tree students. The observed ordinality of the responses of four truth-table classes was found to be more consistent with the simultaneity than with the sequentiality hypothesis. As expected, training interacted with paradigm and also with memory aids and focus instance. The induced simultaneous processing strategy apparently works optimally under rule learning, while the sequential strategy is difficult to induce and/or not optimal for rule-learning operations.     

The effects of token reinforcement versus cognitive behavior modification on learning-disabled students' math skills

The effects of token reinforcement, cognitive behavior modification, and direct instruction on learning-disabled students' math skills were compared. Math skills were measured by 2-minute classroom timings of basic addition and subtraction problems, and the Stanford Diagnostic Mathematics Test. Treatment was provided to 94 students for 4 weeks in daily 1-hour sessions. Significant differential gain between treatment and direct instruction groups in achievement test scores was found, F(4, 182) = 4.03, p<.01. Token reinforcement and cognitive behavior modification were found to be equally effective. All three groups improved with 2-minute classroom timings, F(2, 91) = 8.53,p<.001. Retention of skills for both treatments was maintained over a 2-week no-treatment period. Teachers' social validity ratings indicated differences between the two treatments relative to student behaviors and teacher roles. It is concluded that token reinforcement and cognitive behavior modification are equally effective techniques to remediate learning-disabled students' math achievement, and both are superior to direct instruction in some cases.     

Rapid Naming and Phonemic Awareness: Contributions to Reading,Spelling, and Orthographic Knowledge

The double-deficit hypothesis suggests that deficient skills on two dimensions, rapid naming and phonemic awareness, are associated with poor reading. We studied the reading, spelling, and orthographic skills of Grade 3 children who met our criteria for double asset (DA), single phonological deficit (PD), single naming speed deficit (NSD), and double deficit (DD) groups. Analyses of variance revealed main effects of each factor, oftentimes modified by significant interactions, on the varied achievement measures. All deficit groups performed below the DA children. Compared to children with NSD, children with PD (a) were less accurate decoders, (b) were faster readers, (c) had weaker spelling dictation, and (d) had comparably poor spelling recognition scores. Children with DD showed a mixed pattern of stronger, equal, or weaker skills compared to younger reading level controls.     

Cognitive abilities and learning disabilities

Summary The greater discrepancy between spatial vs sequential/conceptual WISC subtest results in learning-disabled children is instrumental to the idea that these children might profit relatively more from an imagery based strategy in organizing and recalling noun pairs and triplets than from a verbal strategy. The results from the present studies with concrete nouns show that this is not the case. Another result is that learning-disabled children’s recall performance is also lower when strategy instructed (except in the first experiment) than normal children’s performance. Suggestions as to which strategy aspects could be responsible are given. This paper is based upon a presentation at the 30th Annual Conference of The Orton Society in Indianapolis, November 1979.     

Effects of cooperative vs individualistic learning experiences on interpersonal attraction between learning-disabled and normal-progress elementary school students

The effects of cooperative and individualistic learning experiences were compared on (1) interpersonal attraction between nonhandicapped fifth- and sixth-grade elementary school students and learning-disabled peers and (2) achievement. Students participated in a language arts class lasting 90 min a day for 17 days. The results indicate that greater interpersonal attraction between the learning-disabled and normal-progress students and higher achievement resulted in the cooperative than in the competitive condition.     

Factor structure of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised,Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test,and Peabody Individual Achievement Test in a psychiatric sample

This study analyzed the factor structure of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R), the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT), and the Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT) in a psychiatric sample that ranged in age from 6 to 16 years (mean age = 11.1 years; SD = 3.0). The resultant factor structure of this sample was compared with patterns reported on normal and learning-disabled children. The subjects were 329 children under inpatient and outpatient care who had been referred for emotional disturbances. The results were similar to previous factor analytic studies of the WISC-R and PIAT, showing four factors: Verbal Comprehension, Verbal Achievement, Perceptual Organization, and Number Facility. The implications for the interpretation of these tests in a psychiatric sample and the appropriateness of a maximum likelihood technique in analysis of psychometric data are discussed.