| Abstract: | Ninety-seven hearing-impaired children ages 8–12 were given the Raven Coloured Progressive Matrices (CPM) and a Piagetian battery under one of six conditions of testing: (a1) standard, (a2) simple feedback, (a3) “verbalization” after problem solution (a4) “verbalization” during and after solution, (a5) differential feedback, and (a6) conditions a4 and a5 combined. Kagan's Matching Familiar Figures Test (MFFT) and the Nowicki-Strickland Internal-External Control scale were also administered. Performance under conditions a5 and a6 was greater than performance under conditions a3 and a4, which in turn exceeded performance in conditions a1 or a2. MFFT errors, MFFT latency, and locus of control score were differentially related to performance in the different testing conditions. A significant prediction equation was found for both the CPM and Piagetian battery under a2, a3, and a6 and for the CPM under a4. All analyses indicated consistency of findings across both criterion measures. The findings of this investigation may be used as an aid in the development of diagnostic instruments and procedures which take individual differences along dimensions of personality and cognitive style into account. |
