title: Mediation or production deficiency in disabled readers.
abstract: Deficiences in disabled readers' short-term memory processing were studied. A deficit in memory capacity versus susceptibility to interference was investigated by examining performance over trials. A mediation versus production deficiency in memory processing was examined by testing the effect of instructions for rehearsal on performance of average and disabled readers in Grades 2 and 5. Contrary to prior research, facilitative effects of rehearsal graders' memory was adversely affected by overt rehearsal. Requiring children to rehearse overtly at a set rate may account for the results. A second study examined effects of covert rehearsal on the memory of average and disabled readers in Grade 2 over trials. Facilitative effects of covert rehearsal were shown when data of children who spontaneously rehearsed were removed. A deficiency in production by second graders was supported. Disabled readers who did not rehearse were more susceptible to interference.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D012691:Serial Learning