Tested the hypothesis that reflective children would be more field-dependent and more internal than their impulsive counterparts. Subjects were first- and third-grade black children. (Author/SDH)

Perceptual difficulties may be related to a lack of experience with visual materials and insufficient experience with the use of verbal mediation in solving nonverbal tasks. (RB)

Studied the effects of 120 hours of chess instruction on the mathematics achievement of southern, rural, black secondary students. Analysis of covariance results show the treatment group (11 females, 9 males) scored significantly higher than the control group (10 females, 10 males) in mathematics achievement. Discusses results in terms of altering…

An experiment using an analysis of the distinctive features of lower case letters of the English alphabet to predict high- and low-confusible alternates for each letter was reported. Ten disadvantaged 5-year-old Negro children served as their own controls, circling in booklets the letters seen after a 1-second presentation by memory drum. The…

Several working assumptions regarding black reading behavior and alternative contexts for black reading research are presented in this paper along with an attempt to seek the fundamental bases of perception, that is, reading knowledge in the folk wisdom of people. The paper also discusses the influence of cultural and environmental factors on the…

THIS PROJECT ANALYZED A LONGITUDINAL READING PROGRAM FOR IDENTIFICATION OF GROWTH IN ABILITIES, AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TESTS. APPROXIMATELY 60 PUPILS FROM CONTROL AND EXPERIMENTAL CLASSES RECEIVED INTENSIVE READINESS TRAINING IN VISUAL PERCEPTION, AUDITORY DISCRIMINATION, AND LANGUAGE SKILLS. ALL WERE TESTED AT 25-MONTH INTERVALS. ANALYSES…

Examined patterns of intellectual differences among children (n=300) of different ethnic groups on Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised. Results indicated that when overall intelligence quotient was held constant, Black children performed better on verbal tasks, Hispanic children performed better on visual-spatial tasks, and White…

This paper presents a study conducted to document adolescents' visual perceptions of school. Specifically, an attempt was made to determine whether black and white adolescents, when given cameras, an entire school day, and complete freedom from class assignments, would select different physical and social aspects of their school environment to…

A longitudinal study examined the performance of 50 African American children (ages 4-6) from low- and middle- income homes on a reading comprehension test. Preliminary results indicate two measures predicted later reading comprehension for children from low income homes, use of complex syntax and shape matching. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

Discussion of the educational system for black children in South Africa focuses on a project that was developed to teach map skills to elementary students. Topics addressed include unqualified teachers and the need for teacher training; producing affordable instructional materials; and spatial and visual perception skills. (Contains 12…

A study was conducted to determine whether chess instruction would change the measure of a student's field-dependence or field-independence as determined by the Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT) in the direction of stronger field independence. Field dependence/independence is a psychological construct referring to a global versus an analytical…

The findings of several tests are used to describe some learning disabilities and patterns common in lower-class Puerto Rican and Negro children. In particular, perceptual dysfunction is pointed to as a major causal factor in the reading problems of the disadvantaged. In one urban slum school, 40 percent of first graders showed serious dysfunction…

The effects of four different kinds of perceptual training programs on IQ and Reading Readiness in a population of lower socio-economic level kindergarten children were explored to provide useful information for curriculum planning. Data was gathered on 54 disadvantaged 5-year olds in an OEO day care center. During the afternoon session, children…