The Effect of Logo on the Nonverbal Reasoning Ability of Rural and Disadvantaged Third Graders

Abstract

Prior research that has attempted to assess the impact of Logo programming on the cognitive abilities of youth has utilized samples drawn primarily from white middle class populations. This study assesses the impact of Logo programming using a sample that consists of rural and disadvantaged student’s. Thirty-six third-graders were randomly assigned to either a treatment group or a control group. The Matrix Analogies Test, a test of nonverbal reasoning ability, was selected as the dependent variable. The treatment group received eight weeks of Logo programming experience. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) computed on the MAT posttest, controlling for pretest, revealed a significant group effect. The Logo group scored significantly higher than the control group.

Keywords:

• disadvantaged students
• Logo
• reasoning