Reports two experiments to assess the usefulness of an alternative position to the "deficit hypothesis" and the "differences hypothesis," namely, that environmental/situational factors attenuate the performance of lower-class children, but that their competence, while genotypically equivalent to that of middle-class children,…

Differences in language proficiency between social classes and races were studied to determine the effect of familiarity of the testing situation. Results showed no natural setting language differences. (ST)

Program planning for economically deprived children might be improved if behavioral information pertinent to specific subcultural groups were systematically obtained. This prospectus focuses on developing a three-part behavioral model which, when integrated, would identify and profile the nature of disadvantagement in terms idiosyncratic and…