R. Robert Orr

Prediction of the reading and spelling performances of normal and retarded readers: a four-year follow-up.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relative predictive accuracy of a number of measures employed in a 4-year longitudinal study of the neuropsychological abilities of normal and retarded readers. The results indicated that there were some very accurate predictive measures of reading and spelling achievement levels over the 4-year age span studied, and that the relative accuracy of these measures differed markedly for normal and retarded readers. Especially in the case of retarded readers, performance on the Underlining Test was a much more accurate predictor of eventual achievement levels in reading and spelling than were tests of reading, spelling, or psychometric intelligence.

Personality and social characteristics of Facebook non-users and frequent users

Facebook is currently the largest social networking website with an estimated one billion of monthly active users in 2012. While most of the prior research has explored characteristics of Facebook users, less is known about the characteristics of individuals who do not use Facebook. The current study examined personality and social factors that might influence the decision to use Facebook and explored differences between Facebook non-users and frequent users. Online questionnaires examining levels of trust and self-disclosure, number of intimate friendships, peer usage of Facebook and scores on overt and covert narcissism were used for the purpose of the study. The results showed that non-users and frequent users differed on several social and personality characteristics. Facebook non-users had lower tendency to self-disclose, fewer peers participating in the social network and higher covert narcissistic traits. Frequent Facebook users scored higher on overt narcissism and reported more intimate friendships than non-users, indicating that close friendships might actually extend to social networks and contribute to a feeling of closeness and intimacy between friends in both an online and offline context.

Free Recall and Retrieval Speed of Categorized Items by Kindergarten Children.

Kindergarten Ss were presented with 16 pictorial items in four category sets or a partially random ordem with one item from each category composing the four presentation sets. The pictures were presented either on conceptually related background pictures or on white backgrounds. The categorically grouped presentation facilitated free recall performance, both in terms of number of items recalled and the speed with which the items were recalled, and increased the amount of clustering in recall. Categorical clustering in recall was associated with shorter within- than between-category intervals and for those Ss who recalled items from each of four categories successively, the over-all temporal pattern in recall closely approximated that found with adults. No background effects were found.

Social Behaviors of Children with Visual Impairments Enrolled in Preschool Programs

This study investigated the social behaviors of children with visual impairments enrolled in a variety of preschool programs. Using the Behaviour Observation Record, the researchers made comparisons between the social interactions of 9 children with visual impairments and a matched comparison group of 9 children with full sight. Observational data indicated that the children with visual impairments were capable of interacting with others. Differences were noted, however, in the frequency of social initiations and the targets of these initiations made by the children with visual impairments. These observations are interpreted in support of the integration of preschool children with visual impairments into general education programs.

Stress, coping, and resources in mothers of adults with developmental disabilities

Abstract This study examined the relationship of various stressors, coping resources, and coping strategies on the level of stress reported by 147 mothers of adults with delayed development. A sense of mastery and the mothers health as well as financial well-being were significantly negatively related to stress. Coping behaviours of reframing of the problem and acquisition of social support were also significantly negatively related to stress. Implications of the results of this study for service providers are discussed.

CHILDREN'S WORD-FINDING TEST: A VERBAL PROBLEM-SOLVING TASK

A version of the Word-Finding Test was constructed for use with children. This test was administered to 40 normal children and 20 children with learning disabilities who had been matched for age and WISC Full Scale IQ. The results indicated that the test is appropriate for use with 9- and 10-yr.-old children, and that performance distinguishes between normal and learning disabled children of these ages at a high level of confidence. There were also some indications that the mode of approach to the test exhibited by the children with learning disabilities differed qualitatively from that of the normal children.

Sex Differences in the Perceptual, Visual-Motor, Linguistic and Concept-Formation Abilities of Retarded Readers?

Male and female retarded readers at two age levels (6.5 to 8.5 vears and 10.5 to 12.5 years) did not differ significantly on a number of perceptual, visual-motor, linguistic, and concept-formation abilities. The absence of sex differences is contrary to (a) the results obtained with normal children and (b) expectations based on recent theoretical speculations regarding sex differences in cerebral organization and specialization at the ages under consideration.

Multiple dimension processing by newborns

Newborn looking toward novel stimuli containing a single or two novel dimensions was assessed in two studies. In Study 1, newborns were habituated to a visual stimulus containing stimulus movement and line orientation information. Following habituation, stimuli containing two novel dimensions were attended to more than stimuli containing a single novel dimension. It was also demonstrated that newborns detect stimulus movement changes. In Study 2, stimuli containing novel colour and line orientation information, following habituation, were attended to across three test trials more than stimuli containing a novel colour only. Colour discrimination was also demonstrated. It was concluded that newborns appear to attend to stimuli containing two novel dimensions differently than those containing a single novel dimension. It was suggested that newborns employ an analytic mode of processing to detect novel dimensions. Further research is required to verify this conclusion and to determine what component is first attended to.