A growing body of literature clearly shows typical LD children have trouble directing their attention to the central features of an externally-provided task. Further, LD children perceive the consequences surrounding their behavior to be more externally-controlled than does the average learner. This inactive, externally-controlled learning style is well documented. Further research needs now to isolate the subgroups which may exist within the broader characterization and examine the effectiveness of remedial techniques with the various subgroups. - G.M.S.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Battle, E., and Rotter, J.B.: Children's feelings of personal control as related to social class and ethnic group. Journal of Personality, 1963, 31, 482-490.
2.
Bialer, I.: Conceptualization of success and failure in mentally retarded and normal children . Journal of Personality, 1961, 29, 303-320.
3.
Crandall, V.J., Katkovsky, W., and Preston, A.: Motivational and ability determinants of young children's intellectual achievement behaviors. Child Development, 1962, 33, 643-661.
4.
Crandall, V.C., Katkovsky, W., and Crandall, V.J.: Children's beliefs in their own control of reinforcements in intellectual-academic achievement situations. Child Development, 1965, 36, 91-109.
5.
Druker, J.F., and Hagen, J.W.: Developmental trends in the processing of task relevant and task irrelevant information. Child Development, 1969, 40, 371-382.
6.
Hagen, J.W.: The effect of distraction on selective attention. Child Development , 1967, 38, 685-694.
7.
Hagen, J.W., and Sabo, R.: A developmental study of selective attention. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 1967, 13, 159-172.
8.
Hallahan, D.P.: Distractibility in the learning disabled child. In W.M. Cruickshank and D.P. Hallahan (Eds.): Perceptual and Learning Disabilities in Children. Vol. 2: Research and Theory. Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 1975.
9.
Hallahan, D.P., Kauffman, J.M., and Ball, D.W.: Selective attention and cognitive tempo of low achieving and high achieving sixth-grade males. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1973, 36, 579-583.
10.
Hallahan, D.P., Kauffman, J.M., and Ball, D.W.: Effects of stimulus attenuation on selective attention performance of children . Journal of Genetic Psychology, 1974, 125, 71-77.
11.
Hallahan, D.P., Tarver, S.G., Kauffman, J.M., and Graybeal, N.L.: A comparison of the effects of reinforcement and response cost on the selective attention of learning disabled children. Journal of Learning Disabilities, in press.
12.
Lefcourt, H.M., and Ladwig, G.W.: The effect of reference group upon Negroes' task performance in a biracial competitive game. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 1965, 1, 377-380.
13.
Maccoby, E.E., and Hagen, J.W.: Effects of distraction upon central versus incidental recall: Development trends. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 1965, 2, 280-289.
14.
McGhee, P.E.: Beliefs in internal-external control of reinforcement and academic performance . Child Development, 1968, 39, 91-102.
15.
Meichenbaum, D.: Cognitive-behavior Modification. New York: Plenum Press, 1977.
16.
Nowicki, S., and Strickland, B.R. : A locus of control scale for children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1973 , 40, 1-8.
17.
Rotter, J.B., Seeman, M., and Leverant, S.: Internal versus external control of reinforcement: A major variable in behavior theory. In N.F. Washburne (Ed.): Decisions, Values, and Groups. Vol. 2. London: Pergamon Press, 1962.
18.
Shaw, R.L., and Uhl, N.P.: Control of reinforcement and academic achievement. Journal of Educational Research, 1971, 64, 226-228.
19.
Tarver, S.G., Hallahan, D.P., Kauffman, J.M., and Ball, D.W.: Verbal rehearsal and selective attention in children with learning disabilities: A developmental lag. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology , 1976, 22, 375-385.
20.
Torgesen, J.K.: The role of non-specific factors in the task performance of learning disabled children: A theoretical assessment. Journal of Learning Disabilities , 1977, 10, 27-34.