Relative Variability with Visually Mediated Vocabulary among the Retarded

Abstract

The objective of this investigation was to determine the degree to which abstracting processes are mediated by visual aids among the retarded. Retarded Ss ( N = 81) were administered the Ammons Full-Range Picture Vocabulary Test (Form A or B) , and were classified as Group I: idiopathic ( N = 37 ) , Group F: familial ( N = 2 1 ) and Group OBD: organically braindamaged ( N = 23), types. Medians for MA and CA were, respectively, as follows, overall: 7 yr., 6 mo. and 20 yr., 1 mo.; Group I: 7 yr., 5 mo. and 19 yr., 4 mo.; Group F: 7 yr., 9 mo. and 17 yr., 2 mo.; Group OBD: 7 yr., 8 mo. and 18 yr., 4 mo. Most vocabulary items are classifiable as concrete words (C) or abstract words ( A ) , giving for Form A, 39 C words and 34 A words and for Form B, 44 C words and 30 A words. A concrete word represents any item which can be seen directly, without an interpretation, e.g., wagon. An abstract word requires interpretation in some sense, e.g., isolation. For all Ss the number of successes, sigma, and coefficient of variation ( V ) , were obtained on A and C words. Relative variability was computed by the straightforward ratio in V for A/C, the expected direction, and were as follows: Group I, 87 96; Group F, 76%; and Group OBD, 64%. The contrasting percentages for Groups I and OBD may mean that Ss with CNS injury are relatively more stimulus-bound with respect to visually mediated, verbal meaning. A median test, run to determine whether separate performance on C and A words varies among Ss in Groups I, F, and OBD, yielded an insignificant chi square value for C words and just missed significance at the 5% level (XG 7.64) for A words. A median test between males (N = 53 ) and females ( N = 28) was negative for A and C words. Summary,--Retarded Ss, classified as idiopathic, familial, and organically brain-damaged (I, F, and OBD) showed unequal relative variability in visually mediated comprehension of abstract ( A ) and concrete (C) words, which suggests that Group OBD Ss may be more stimulus-bound. There is some trend toward unequal performance among these three groups on A words but there are no sex differences in A or C comprehension.