The article describes the social comparison method of social validation and reports on several studies in which it was used to evaluate interventions with learning disabled (LD) students. Several implications and areas for further study are discussed, relating to the use of the social comparison method in evaluating treatment programs for LD…

The article discusses stimulating motor development as it relates to learning difficulties with reference to the work of Dutch neurologist P. Mesker. It is concluded that disturbance in sensorimotor development is the most important cause of learning difficulties in the first years of elementary school. (SBH)

The study examined behavior disorders of learning disabled (N=94) and normal (N=2,991) children in Grades K through 8, using the behavior problem checklist. Learning disabled youngsters had significantly more problems on four of the five checklist dimensions (conduct problems, personality problems, inadequacy-immaturity, and psychotic signs).…

The results indicated that normal children experience auditory fusion at shorter time intervals than is true for either of the disabled groups, that signal intensity affects auditory fusion for all groups, and that only the learning disabled children are differentially affected by the frequency of the stimulus tones. (Author/PHR)

The effect of focused or preorganized instruction on the mental operations of 64 learning disabled (LD) children (8 to 12 years old) was examined. Results indicated focused instruction had a positive effect on cognitive functioning. (Author)

The study was designed to investigate scatter produced by 105 learning disabled (LD) children (6 to 16 years old) and to compare Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) scatter with that produced by A. Kaufman's (1976) normal population. Range of scaled scores (i.e., scatter) was significantly greater for the LD group. (SBH)

A procedure involving repeated readings of the same passage combined with the programing evaluation procedure caused 16 learning-disabled secondary students' reading attitudes to change significantly. Feedback to the student was provided by charting the record of faster times and number of word errors. (SBH)

Argues that multimodal education which emphasizes the commonalities among children is needed to help handicapped children experience a feeling of belonging in the regular classroom. Discusses a number of educational programs and a sample lesson which have multimodal properties. (SS)

The article critiques some of the flaws of mainstreaming, such as grade-level curriculum demands, reporting systems, standardized tests, teacher training, and the individualization of instruction. (Author/SBH)

The paper suggests that time-series design methodology provides a useful paradigm in which to conduct research in the learning disabilities field. (Author)

The article focuses on the skills required by the psychologists who work in a school program which provides psychological assistance to children with behavioral and learning problems. (PHR)

A survey was conducted to examine the opinion structure of 409 Illinois specialists in learning disabilities, regarding the relative importance of the teaching competencies in the Illinois Division for Children with Learning Disabilities Professional Competency Document. (DLS)

The literature on two forms of muscle relaxation training (electro-myographic (EMG) biofeedback and progressive muscle relaxation) with learning disabled and hyperkinetic children is reviewed and the authors' own study is discussed. (Author/PHR)

The report has a threefold focus: (1) it describes a university-affiliated summer program for learning disabled children (ages 4-to-14 years); (2) it discusses benefits of the program from the perspectives of both parent and teacher trainee; (3) it points out some problems with the program. (Author/PHR)