This is the first of a series of articles which discuss research into the identification of potential in the Third World. Conventional psychometric tests are inappropriate in this setting and the writers are concerned to identify pupils with a high capacity for learning since the current manifest achievement of pupils is low. They are working on the paradigm of “test—teach—test” in order to assess the degree of modifiability under optimal conditions of mediation.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BrownA. J.FerraraR. A. (1985) Diagnosing Zones of Proximal Development in WertschJ. V.Culture, Communication? and Cognition: Vygotskian Perspectives. Cambridge University Press: New York.
2.
BrunerJ. (1985) Vygotsky: A Historical and Conceptual Perspective in WertschJ. V.Culture, Communication and Cognition: Vygotskian Perspectives. Cambridge University Press: New York.
3.
BudoffM. (1969) Learning potential: a supplementary procedure for assessing the ability to reason. Seminars in Psychiatry, 1, 278–90.
4.
BudoffM. (1975) Measuring learning potential: an alternative to the traditional intelligence test in GredlerG. R. (ed) Ethical and Legal Factors in the Practice of School Psychology: Proceedings of the First Annual Conference in School Psychology. Philadelphia: Pennsylvania Temple University.
5.
CampioneJ. C. (1982) Mental Retardation and Intelligence in Sternberg, R. J. Handbook of Human Intelligence. Cambridge University Press: New York.
6.
ColeM. (1985) The Zone of Proximal Development: Where Culture and Cognition Create Each Other, in WertschJ. V. Culture, Communication and Cognition: Vygotskian Perspectives. Cambridge University Press: New York.
7.
DostalE.VerganiV. (1984) Future Perspectives on South African Education, Occasional Paper No 4, Institute for Future Research. University of Stellenbosch.
8.
FarrellP.SmithN. (1982) A survey of methods educational psychologists use to assess children with learning difficulties. Brit Psy Soc, Occasional Papers, 6.
9.
FeuersteinR.ShalomH. (1968) The learning potential assessment device, in RichardsB. W. ed. Proceedings of the First Congress of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Mental Deficiency. Reigate, Surrey, England: Michael Jackson.
10.
FeuersteinR. (1979) The Dynamic Assessment of Retarded Performers: the Learning Potential Assessment Device, Theory, Instruments and Techniques. Baltimore: University Park Press.
11.
FormanE. A.CazdenC. B. (1985) Exploring Vygotskian Perspectives in Education, in WertschJ. V. Culture, Communication and Cognition: Vygotskian Perspectives. Cambridge University Press: New York.
12.
FrankensteinC. (1979) They Think Again: Restoring Cognitive Abilities through Teaching. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co.
13.
HegartyS.LucasD. A. (1978) Able to Learn? The Pursuit of Culture-Fair Assessment. Slough: N FER.
14.
JensenA. R. (1963) Learning ability in retarded, average and gifted children. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly of Beh & Dev, 9, 123–140.
15.
JensenA. R. (1980) Bias in Mental Testing. New York: Free Press.
16.
RautenbachN. L. (1984) Development of Cognitive Potential in Southern Africa in Developing Cognitive Strategies in Young Children. Proceedings of Saaled 1985 Conference, University of Durban-Westville.
17.
SerpellR. (1972) Intelligence tests in the third world. Race Today, 4, 46–9.
18.
SieglerR. S.RichardsD. D. (1982) The Development of Intelligence, in Sternberg, R. J. Handbook of Human Intelligence. Cambridge University Press: New York.
19.
VernonP. E. (1969) Intelligence and Cultural Environment. London: Methuen.
20.
VernonP. E. (1975) Intelligence across cultures, in VermaG. K.BagleyC. (ed). Race and Education Across Cultures. London: Heinemann.
21.
VosA. J. (1986) Aspects of Education in KwaZulu, in Paidonomia, Vol 13, No 2. Journal of the Faculty of Education, University of Zululand.
22.
WertschJ. V. (1985) Introduction in WertschJ. V. Culture, Communication and Cognition: Vygotskian Perspectives. Cambridge University Press: New York.