Global/local processing in mentally retarded and nonretarded persons

Abstract

This study examined intelligence-related differences in perceptual processing in a global/local task. Both mentally retarded and nonretarded persons processed global information faster than local information. Furthermore, both groups showed a similar global precedence effect. The effects of extensive practice at naming local features was also examined. Local processing times became faster for both groups as a result of local naming practice. The implication of the results are discussed in the context of global/local processing models as well as processing in other interference tasks (e.g., the Stroop task; Stroop, 1935). These results point to the need to assess task and processing parameters when extending findings of intelligence-related differences across apparently similar tasks.