The Effects of Pictorial Stimuli on Direction Following of Mentally Retarded Adolescents. Project

Two groups of retarded adolescents were presented sets of multiple verbal directions (imperative sentences). One group was exposed to pictures illustrating the objects and action of each direction in addition to the verbal directions. Subjects were required to carry out performances demanded by the directions. The direction-following behavior of the Verbal Picture Group was found to be significantly superior to the Verbal Group. The groups did not differ significantly in sequencing their performances, i.e., carrying out the verbal directions in the order in which they were presented. Two possible explanations for the superior performance of the Verbal Picture Group were offered: (1) pictures provided additional relevant stimuli which strengthened the stimulus-response relation between the spoken directions and the required performances; (2) pictures induced visual imagery which increased associations of the stimuli (pictures and spoken words) and the responses (direction-following). (WCM) PARSONS RESEARCH CENTER Working Paper #300 August 1973 THE EFFECTS OF PICTORIAL STIMULI ON DIRECTION FOLLOWING OF MENTALLY RETARDED ADOLESCENTS1 Dennis J. Tucker, Ingo Keilitz, and Jennifer F. Holvoet U S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. EDUCATION A SLLFARE NATIONAL INS' 'WYE OF EDUCA ION THIS DOCUMENT IAS BEEN REPRO DUCE° FXACTCV AS RECEIVED T kOM THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGIN ATINO IT POINTS OT VIEW Ok OPINIONS S,AT ED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPkE SENT OT { ICtAL NATIONAL INSliTUSE OF EDUCATION POSITION OR POLICY These work ng papers are intended primarily as informal research communications to and among members of the Research staff. They may contain hypotheses, study proposals, reports of a study, critiques, etc., at any stage of refinement. Persons ouL,Ade the Research staff are free to contribute to the series but distribution outside the Research staff is at the discretion of the authors.