Effects of procedure on memory scanning of mildly mentally retarded adults. 1984

C J Phillips, and T Nettelbeck

The performance of mildly mentally retarded adults on recognition memory tasks was compared with that of nonretarded control subjects. Following Sternberg's (1969) procedure, material to be remembered was presented in a fixed-set procedure, during which subjects were tested repeatedly on the same well-learned set of material, and a varied-set procedure, during which they were only tested on a memory set once before having to learn a new set. Mean reaction times (RTs) in all groups increased linearly as the number of items in the fixed memorized set increased; but "no" RTs of retarded adults tested under the varied-set procedure did not show this pattern. There was a gradation of slopes for the linear regression functions of RT on memory set size in both procedures, from less steep for nonretarded adults to increasingly steep values for nonretarded children and retarded adults. These results suggest that retarded adults use different processing strategies in the two procedures and that rate of processing increases with increasing mental age.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007360 Intelligence The ability to learn and to deal with new situations and to deal effectively with tasks involving abstractions.
D008568 Memory Complex mental function having four distinct phases: (1) memorizing or learning, (2) retention, (3) recall, and (4) recognition. Clinically, it is usually subdivided into immediate, recent, and remote memory.
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
D011930 Reaction Time The time from the onset of a stimulus until a response is observed. Response Latency,Response Speed,Response Time,Latency, Response,Reaction Times,Response Latencies,Response Times,Speed, Response,Speeds, Response
D012044 Regression Analysis Procedures for finding the mathematical function which best describes the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. In linear regression (see LINEAR MODELS) the relationship is constrained to be a straight line and LEAST-SQUARES ANALYSIS is used to determine the best fit. In logistic regression (see LOGISTIC MODELS) the dependent variable is qualitative rather than continuously variable and LIKELIHOOD FUNCTIONS are used to find the best relationship. In multiple regression, the dependent variable is considered to depend on more than a single independent variable. Regression Diagnostics,Statistical Regression,Analysis, Regression,Analyses, Regression,Diagnostics, Regression,Regression Analyses,Regression, Statistical,Regressions, Statistical,Statistical Regressions
D012107 Research Design A plan for collecting and utilizing data so that desired information can be obtained with sufficient precision or so that an hypothesis can be tested properly. Experimental Design,Data Adjustment,Data Reporting,Design, Experimental,Designs, Experimental,Error Sources,Experimental Designs,Matched Groups,Methodology, Research,Problem Formulation,Research Methodology,Research Proposal,Research Strategy,Research Technics,Research Techniques,Scoring Methods,Adjustment, Data,Adjustments, Data,Data Adjustments,Design, Research,Designs, Research,Error Source,Formulation, Problem,Formulations, Problem,Group, Matched,Groups, Matched,Matched Group,Method, Scoring,Methods, Scoring,Problem Formulations,Proposal, Research,Proposals, Research,Reporting, Data,Research Designs,Research Proposals,Research Strategies,Research Technic,Research Technique,Scoring Method,Source, Error,Sources, Error,Strategies, Research,Strategy, Research,Technic, Research,Technics, Research,Technique, Research,Techniques, Research
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

Related Publications

C J Phillips, and T Nettelbeck
July 1985, American journal of mental deficiency,
C J Phillips, and T Nettelbeck
January 1978, American journal of mental deficiency,
C J Phillips, and T Nettelbeck
January 1987, American journal of mental deficiency,
C J Phillips, and T Nettelbeck
October 1980, The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association,
C J Phillips, and T Nettelbeck
July 1982, American journal of mental deficiency,
C J Phillips, and T Nettelbeck
October 1988, Psychological reports,
C J Phillips, and T Nettelbeck
July 1987, American journal of mental deficiency,
C J Phillips, and T Nettelbeck
September 1979, American journal of mental deficiency,
C J Phillips, and T Nettelbeck
January 1987, Upsala journal of medical sciences. Supplement,
C J Phillips, and T Nettelbeck
November 1982, American journal of mental deficiency,
Copied contents to your clipboard!