MENTAL RETARDATION MENTAL AGE AND LEARNING RATE

Zigler's hypothesis that MA rather than IQ determines the rate of learning was examined in the light of empirical evidence comparing the learning rates of 40 normal and 40 retarded children and young adults matched for MA. Results show that learning rate is a function of IQ as well as MA. In general, children of average IQ learned serial and paired-associate lists significantly faster than retarded young adults with IQs between 50 and 60 but with approximately the same MA. An interaction between IQ, learning rate, and socioeconomic status is also noted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1968 American Psychological Association.