This study examines developmental trends in the information processing and reading skills of Native Indian (Tsimshian) children living on the north coast of B.C. and non-Native children from Prince Rupert. Developmental trends in the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children: Mental Processing, and in reading decoding and comprehension were examined for 225 children ages 8-12.
Results of Canonical Analysis and ANOVA revealed significant relationships between group membership, Simultaneous and Sequential Processing subtests, and Reading subtests. Differences between the two Native Indian groups were statistically significant. Experiential background was seen as the major determinant of information processing ability and development of reading skills.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Berry, J.W. (1966). Temne and Eskimo perceptual skills. International Journal of Psychology, 1(3), 207-229.
2.
Bracken, B.C. (1985). A critical review of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC). School Psychology Review, 14(1), 21-36.
3.
Brooks, I.R. (1978). Teaching Native children: Lessons from cognitive psychology. Journal of Educational Thought, 12(1), 56-67.
4.
Brown, D.B. (1984). WISC-R scoring patterns among Native Americans of the Northern Plains. White Cloud Journal, 3(2).
5.
Cohen, R. (1969). Conceptual styles, culture conflict, and non-verbal tests of intelligence. American Anthropologist, 71(5), 828-856.
6.
Cummins, J.P. (1973). Systems of mediation in memory and reasoning. Paper presented to the annual conference of the Canadian Psychological Association, Victoria, B.C.
7.
Cummins, J.P. & Das, J.P. (1977). Cognitive processing and reading difficulties: A framework for research. Alberta Journal of Educational Research , 23, 245-256.
8.
Das, J.P., Kirby, J., & Jarman, R.F. (1975). Simultaneous and successive synthesis: An alternative model for cognitive abilities. Psychological Bulletin,82, 87-103.
9.
Das, J.P., Kirby, J., & Jarman, R.F. (1979). Simultaneous and successive cognitive processes . New York: Academic Press.
10.
Downing, J., Ollila, L., & Oliver, P. (1975). Cultural differences in children's concepts of reading and writing. British Journal of Educational Psychology , 451, 312-316.
11.
Glass, G. & Hopkins, K. (1984). Statistical methods. in education and psychology . Englewood Cliffs, N.J: Prentice-Hall .
12.
Hardman, & Oldridge, O.A. (1985). The predictive validity of the WISC-R on the Woodcock-Johnson Achievement Battery, the British Columbia Quick Individual Educational Test, and teacher ranking of student achievement. CanadianJournal of School Psychology, 1, 31-38.
13.
Havighurst, E. (1970). Goals of Indian education. The education of Indian children and youth. Summary report and recommendations: National study of American Indian education, 1970, 14, (6).
14.
Ishihara, S. (1977). Test for Colour Blindness. Kanehara Shuppan Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan.
15.
Jensen, A.R. (1984). The black-white difference on the K-ABC: Implications for future tests. Journal of Special Education. 18(3), 377-408.
16.
Kaufman, A.S. & Kaufman, N.L. (1983a). Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service .
Kaulback, B. (1984). Styles of learning among Native children: A review of the research. Canadian Journal of Native Education. 11(3), 27-37.
19.
Kleinfield, J. (1970). Cognitive strength of Eskimos and implications for education. Institute of Social, Economic and Government Research, University of Alaska.
20.
Kleinfield,J. (1971). Intellectual strengths in culturally different groups: An Eskimo illustration. Review of Educational Research , 43(3).
21.
Luria, A.R. (1966). Human brain and psychological process. New York: Harper & Row.
22.
McShane, D. & Plas, J. (1984). Response to a critique of the McShane & Plas review of American Indian performance on the Wechsler Intelligence Scales . School Psychology Review, 13( 1 ).
23.
More, A.J. (1984). Okanagan/Nicola Indian quality of education study: Final report. Okanagan Indian Learning Institute, Penticton, B.C.
24.
Nerlove, S., & Snipper, A.S. (1981). Cognitive consequences of cultural opportunity . In R. Munroe & B. Whiting (Eds.), Handbook of cross cultural human development. New York: Garland .
25.
Sattler, J.M. (1982). Assessment of children's intelligence and special abilities. (2nd Edition). Boston : Allyn & Bacon.
26.
Scaldwell, W.A., Frame, J., & Cookson, D. (1984, July). Individual intellectual assessment of Chippewa, Muncey, and Oneida children. Presented at the Mokakit Indian Education Research Conference, London, Ontario.
27.
Scribner, S. & Cole, M. (1973). Cognitive consequences of formal and informal education. Science, 182, 553-559.
28.
Vernon, P.E. (1969). Intelligence and cultural environment. London: Menthuen
29.
Wormei, C.T. (1983). British Colmbia Quick Individual Educational Test . University of British Columbia: Vancouver, B.C.
