Abstract
A brief time sampling method, called the Ring-Cube Test, measuring the visually directed bilateral grasp responses of infants between ages 5 to 10 mo., is described. The method consists of presenting cubes and rings for a maximum of 4 min., with manual recording of responses by means of a code. Results are reported for a sample of 66 Israeli infants, drawn from three different environments, private home, kibbutz, and institution. The test showed satisfactory split-half reliability and differentiated significantly between ages 5 to 8 mo., reaching a ceiling at 10 mo. Keeping age constant, institutionalized Ss performed significantly below non-institutionalized Ss in all age groups, when manipulating cubes, and in age group 6 mo., when manipulating rings. At age level 5 and 6 mo., the Ring and Cube Test correlated significantly with the over-all Mental and Motor Point Scores of the Bayley Infant Scale, and at ages 8 and 10 mo. with a Guttman Scale, composed of Bayley Mental Scale Items, measuring reach for and location of hidden objects. Handedness, as measured by the discrepancy between the Grasp Latencies of the two hands, showed a significant increase of ambidexterity between ages 6 to 10 mo., as well as a growing consistency of laterality when handling rings and cubes was compared.
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