The reports of eight studies testing the effects of elaboration on the learning of children are compiled in this document. Mental elaboration is "thinking while learning" which occurs as the learner actively adds context to the material he is asked to process. Supplied elaboration, included in these studies, occurs when the learner is provided…

Results were interpreted as supporting an inhibition deficit theory of mental retardation. (Authors)

A group of eight mildly intellectually handicapped adolescents at a work preparation center were taught to read two lists of words of equal difficulty by different methods--using an autoinstructional device (a 3M sound-on-slide projector) and a more traditional paired-associate method. (Author/SBH)