Semantic encoding by mildly retarded and non-retarded individuals.
Three comparable groups of mildly retarded individuals were required to encode words according to one of the levels of processing paradigm, a distinctiveness of encoding paradigm or a control condition in which encoding was not influenced in any manner. Their performance on an immediate but unexpected recognition task was compared to that of three comparable groups of equal-MA and three comparable groups of equal-CA individuals. The equal-CA group was the only group advantaged by both the levels of processing (LOP) and the distinctiveness of encoding (DOE) manipulations. The solid performance of the equal-MA subjects in the control, the LOP and the DOE conditions was attributed to the efficient use of episodic memory. The poor performance of the mildly retarded subjects across these conditions was attributed to the lack of semantic organization in permanent memory and to an inefficiency in the use of episodic memory.
Stan
E A
EA
Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Mosley
J L
JL
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology*; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D011939:Mental Recall; D012660:Semantics; D014706:Verbal Learning