The effects and interactions of 3 variables on concept learning and retention were investigated: (1) method of stimulus presentation; (2) learning process; and (3) intellectual ability. One hundred and forty-four (144) 4th graders were divided into 4 groups, each of which was further subdivided into high, middle, and low intellectual ability…

The discriminative learning and transfer of compound and component problems were assessed in retarded subjects at two levels of intelligence. (Author/SB)

This report collects together three presentations given by the author at scientific and professional meetings during the Spring of 1977. The first discusses present views of the variety and complexity of individual differences among human beings in the context of current research on cognitive processing in learning and instruction. The second…

Studies of recall and recognition short-term memory (STM) were reviewed, and a series of studies of serial recognition memory of normal and retarded children was described. In experiments using a recall procedure there were decrements in initial performance level with decreasing age and IQ but less evidence that forgetting occurred at a faster…

Two introductory passages, one regular passage, and one experimental advance organizer passage developed to facilitate initial learning were assigned to normal and retarded children. The subjects were 184 normal 8-year-olds (controls' mean IQ 118.00, organizers' 118.80) and 184 educable mentally retarded 15-year-olds (EMR controls' mean IQ 74.85,…

Problem solving flexibility (PSF), an ability commonly assessed in creativity batteries, was studied in a sample of middle class children (grades 1 through 3, average IQ 114), tested on questions resembling Guilford's consequences procedure. An hypothesis linking PSF with alertness to and interest in the environment was generally supported, more…

This overview of recent research on individual differences especially concerns that research which relates to human learning and instruction. Several major areas of research are identified, and within each area various issues related to that area and representative studies are discussed. Whenever possible, references to more comprehensive reviews…