| Abstract: | The Kounin (4) concept-switching task was administered to groups of institutionalized mentally retarded, non-institutionalized mentally retarded, lower-class normal, and middle-class normal children matched on MA. The concept switching task was administered under three different reward conditions: promise of reward, low tangible reward, and high tangible reward. Differences in performance between groups was tested by means of a 3 x 4 analysis of variance. F tests yielded no significant differences at the . 05 level. The study failed to confirm either Kounin’s concept of rigidity or Zigler’s deprivation motivational hypothesis. Possible reasons for lack of confirmation are discussed. |
