Dexterity and Bench Assembly Work Productivity in Adults with Mild Mental Retardation

Abstract

A large percentage of the research related to the employment of persons with mental retardation has focused on social, cognitive, and quality of life factors. To date, research is limited examining movement skills and their relationship to work productivity. This study was designed to determine whether a relationship existed when comparing dexterity test scores using the Vocational Transit Test System (VT) to bench assembly work productivity in adults with mild mental retardation. Moderately high correlations were found between motor coordination (.631), manual dexterity (.714), finger dexterity without assembly (.716), finger dexterity with assembly (.706), and the total dexterity score (.712) to work output. A multiple regression analysis indicated that finger dexterity was the best predictor of work output. These findings suggest that the VT could be used to assist professionals in predicting work output and job placement. Also, fine motor skill instruction should be an important part of the education and vocational training program for persons with mild mental retardation.

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