ERIC Number: ED024160
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1966
Pages: 178
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The Effect of Special Class Placement on the Self-Concept-of-Ability of the Educable Mentally Retarded Child.
Towne, Richard C.; Joiner, Lee M.
The effect of special class placement on the self concept of ability was studied in 62 educable mentally handicapped students (mean age 11.6). Six observations were made in time design series using scales of self concept of ability and academic aspirations and expectations, tests of significant and academic significant others, and a class evaluation questionnaire. On self concept of ability, results manifested a quadratic trend in scores; little variation in trends of means between high and low socioeconomic status or male and female groups; and pronounced variation between older and younger, and rural and urban groups, and among groups constructed on the basis of high, medium, and low initial scores on the scale. No downward linear trend occurred in academic aspirations or expectations and no changes resulted in affective orientation to the special class, in the proportion of subjects choosing the special class, or in significant others named (except for teachers). Also noted were a high degree of correspondence between significant and academic significant others named by the subjects and by members of a regular class; an increase in the proportion of subjects naming teachers as significant others (p<.05); and, except for teachers, parents, and local adults who increased in proportion of mention (p<.05), overall high agreement in academic significant others named. (JD)
Descriptors: Ability, Academic Achievement, Academic Aspiration, Achievement, Attitudes, Environmental Influences, Exceptional Child Research, Mental Retardation, Mild Mental Retardation, Parent Influence, Rural Urban Differences, Self Concept, Self Evaluation, Sex Differences, Social Influences, Socioeconomic Status, Special Classes, Student Attitudes, Student Placement, Teacher Influence
Publication Type: N/A
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: N/A
Sponsor: Office of Education (DHEW), Washington, DC. Div. of Handicapped Children and Youth.
Authoring Institution: Michigan State Univ., East Lansing. Coll. of Education.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A