An Evaluation of the Delacato Method For The Facilitation of Reading Behaviour∗

∗ The authors are very grateful to the staff of Clayton Technical School, Melbourne, for the opportunity to carry out this research program.

ABSTRACT

This study examines the effectiveness of the Delacato program on reading behaviour by the utilization of three treatment groups. Sixty reading disabled twelve and a half year‐old boys from the one technical school were randomly assigned to three treatment groups. One group was a conventional Delacato group, one a gymnastics group, and the third a phonics treatment group. The results indicated that there was no significant difference between any of the three groups in respect to reading ability after one school year of treatment. Because the motor program groups did less reading per week than the others, it was concluded that motor programs are of value in that these appear to stimulate reading responses. However, since there was no difference between the two motor program groups, it was also concluded that there was no justification in believing in any special efficacy of the Delacato program.

∗ The authors are very grateful to the staff of Clayton Technical School, Melbourne, for the opportunity to carry out this research program.

Notes

∗ The authors are very grateful to the staff of Clayton Technical School, Melbourne, for the opportunity to carry out this research program.