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Analysis of Cognitive Abilities for Mentally Retarded Children on the WISC-R

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Abstract

This study investigated the cognitive abilities of 238 retarded children and youth on the WISC-R. The sample consisted of 238 children (135 boys and 103 girls) ranging in ages from 5 yr., 7 mo. to 16 yr., 7 mo., with a mean age of 10 yr., 9 mo. The variation in subtest scores was analyzed by running an analysis of variance for correlated data for the sample’s subtest scores. Individual differences between subtest means were analyzed by Newman-Keuls test for simple effects. Students’ t and Fisher’s F ratios were used to analyze the subtest scale scores of males and females. On the WISC-R Verbal Scale, the boys scored slightly higher than the girls on each of the subtests. The girls excelled on the Coding. Greatest variation in subtest scores occurred in the Object Assembly, while the lowest variation occurred in Picture Arrangement. Evidence from the present study of mentally retarded children’s performance on the WISC-R indicated that the relative strength and/or weakness of this sample is not restricted to either the Verbal or Performance area. Differences among the WISC-R subtests for retarded subjects seem to be as great within the Verbal-Performance areas as they are between them.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child Study Center, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 22801, USA

    Hubert Booney Vance (Director)

  2. Wichita State University, USA

    Fred Wallbrown

  3. East Tennessee State University, USA

    Norman Hankins

  4. Ohio State University, USA

    Ann Engin

  5. James Madison University, USA

    Harold McGee

Authors
  1. Hubert Booney Vance
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  2. Fred Wallbrown
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  3. Norman Hankins
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  4. Ann Engin
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  5. Harold McGee
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Additional information

This research project was sponsored partially by the East Tennessee State University Research Foundation.

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Vance, H.B., Wallbrown, F., Hankins, N. et al. Analysis of Cognitive Abilities for Mentally Retarded Children on the WISC-R. Psychol Rec 28, 391–397 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03394551

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03394551

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