Biomaterial Database

Are retarded children more distractible? Observational analysis of retarded and nonretarded children's classroom behavior. 1979

A Krupski

Retarded children are frequently characterized as more distractible and/or more outerdirected than are nonretarded children. In this study behavior thought to reflect these processes was described and the relationship of this kind of behavior to task demands was examined. Retarded and nonretarded children were observed while they worked on academic classroom tasks; retarded children were also observed while they worked on nonacademic tasks. Results indicated that retarded children were less attentive than were nonretarded children during academic periods: They spent less time on task, more time out of their seats, and more time "looking busy" but not working. Little support was found for the notion that retarded children are more outerdirected than are nonretarded children. Retarded children responded differently in nonacademic and academic situations, suggesting that behavior reflecting attention is task-related. Results were discussed in terms of previous conceptualizations of retarded persons' attention processes. Implications for future research and for educational practice were also discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008607	Intellectual Disability	Subnormal intellectual functioning which originates during the developmental period. This has multiple potential etiologies, including genetic defects and perinatal insults. Intelligence quotient (IQ) scores are commonly used to determine whether an individual has an intellectual disability. IQ scores between 70 and 79 are in the borderline range. Scores below 67 are in the disabled range. (from Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1992, Ch55, p28)	Disability, Intellectual,Idiocy,Mental Retardation,Retardation, Mental,Deficiency, Mental,Intellectual Development Disorder,Mental Deficiency,Mental Retardation, Psychosocial,Deficiencies, Mental,Development Disorder, Intellectual,Development Disorders, Intellectual,Disabilities, Intellectual,Disorder, Intellectual Development,Disorders, Intellectual Development,Intellectual Development Disorders,Intellectual Disabilities,Mental Deficiencies,Mental Retardations, Psychosocial,Psychosocial Mental Retardation,Psychosocial Mental Retardations,Retardation, Psychosocial Mental,Retardations, Psychosocial Mental
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D004495	Education of Intellectually Disabled	The teaching or training of those individuals with subnormal intellectual functioning.	Education of Mentally Defective,Education of Mentally Retarded,Education, Mentally Retarded,Mentally Retarded Education,Disabled Education, Intellectually,Disabled Educations, Intellectually,Intellectually Disabled Education,Intellectually Disabled Educations,Mentally Defective Education
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001288	Attention	Focusing on certain aspects of current experience to the exclusion of others. It is the act of heeding or taking notice or concentrating.	Focus of Attention,Selective Attention,Social Attention,Attention Focus,Attention, Selective,Attention, Social,Selective Attentions
D012737	Sex Factors	Maleness or femaleness as a constituent element or influence contributing to the production of a result. It may be applicable to the cause or effect of a circumstance. It is used with human or animal concepts but should be differentiated from SEX CHARACTERISTICS, anatomical or physiological manifestations of sex, and from SEX DISTRIBUTION, the number of males and females in given circumstances.	Factor, Sex,Factors, Sex,Sex Factor
D013647	Task Performance and Analysis	The detailed examination of observable activity or behavior associated with the execution or completion of a required function or unit of work.	Critical Incident Technique,Critical Incident Technic,Task Performance,Task Performance, Analysis,Critical Incident Technics,Critical Incident Techniques,Incident Technic, Critical,Incident Technics, Critical,Incident Technique, Critical,Incident Techniques, Critical,Performance, Analysis Task,Performance, Task,Performances, Analysis Task,Performances, Task,Task Performances,Task Performances, Analysis,Technic, Critical Incident,Technics, Critical Incident,Technique, Critical Incident,Techniques, Critical Incident