A study of the written language test performance of a grade four learning-disabled French Immersion student revealed notable qualitative improvement between pretest and posttest settings concurrent with either minimal or no quantitative improvement. These observations suggest that standardized test instruments may not be the most appropriate tool…

The paper examines cognitive and metacognitive teaching practices in relation to theories of motivation, showing how and why they may inadvertently impede the learning disabled trainee's strategy of generalization. Ways for teachers to counteract such practices as well as implications for research needs are discussed. (Author/CL)

The author presents ideas for allowing LD students to discover ways to improve their problem-solving skills. Activities touch upon the influence of the environment, the need for patience and planning, factors in sequencing and organization, and the importance of thoroughness and revision. (CL)

A bibliometric analysis of 2,270 journal articles on learning disabilities published in 248 journals 1968-1983 reveals the most frequently cited core journals publishing the largest percentage of articles, the relative scatter of information across journal sources, the increase in information and the temporal distribution of articles, and the most…

The paper reviews research of A. Strauss and H. Werner on behavioral differences between exogeneous (brain injured) and endogeneous (familial-cultural) mental retardation using quantitative methods of research synthesis. Findings offer little empirical support for the presumed behavioral differences and reveal considerable overlap among the…

A project is described which will design, develop, field test, and refine a computer-based instructional system for remediating problems in memory and metacognition of students with hearing disabilities. The system will focus on fundamental cognitive skills underlying every content area. (CL)

Spontaneously generated oral stories were analyzed from 93 learning-disabled (LD) and normally achieving (NA) students (8-13 years old). Results showed significant group and age differences. The stories told by the LD Ss contained fewer propositions and complete episodes and contained significantly fewer minor setting statements than those of…

Twenty-five learning disabled adolescents were administered Kohlberg's Moral Judgment Interview. Compared to the average achieving adolescents, LD Ss showed less evidence of ability to view moral dilemmas from a community or societal perspective. LD Ss also exhibited a substantial amount of reasoning from an egocentric perspective focusing on…

A peg-word mnemonic technique increased the memorability of paired associates for 15 (LD) and 15 non LD junior high students. Differential longer term retention slightly favored the nondisabled. (CL)

The author describes the tests he uses in evaluating students for learning disabilities, his reasons for using them, and results and interpretations based on those tests. (CL)

Fifty-five first- and second-grade learning-disabled (LD) children were subdivided into six perceptual and linguistic subtypes using hierarchical cluster analysis techniques. Three distinctive patterns of learning disabilities were found, representing a specific language disability (27%) and two variations of mixed perceptual and linguistic…

Findings revealed that 63 learning disabled students scored significantly lower than 30 regular education students (both groups 6-15 years old) on all reading measures. Existing differences in the reading ability level between the two groups did not solely account for the obtained difference in reading achievement. (Author/CL)

The paper describes and provides pilot study data on a computer-based reading comprehension program for learning disabled students in grades 4-9. The program features diagnosis and practice in five skill areas: semantics, syntax, relationships, inference, and interpretation. (CL)

Emotional development from infancy to adolescence is traced and the effects of psychosocial issues on a child with a learning disability are considered for five of E. Erikson's seven proposed stages (trust, autonomy, initiative, industry, adolescence). The need for intervention and parent counseling at each state is emphasized. (CL)

Research in the genetics of behavioral traits, undertaken by family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies, has revealed information on normal variation in cognitive abilities as well as specific learning disabilities (primarily dyslexia). Genetic evaluation of learning disabled students have implications for counseling and recurrence risk…