Stabilometer Performance of Educable Mentally Retarded Children under Differential Feedback Conditions

Abstract

Twelve trials on a stabilometer task were administered to 100 educable mentally retarded children whose IQs ranged from 55 to 80 and whose mean age was 12.6 years. Four groups were trained under different supplementary auditory or visual feedback conditions while a fifth group was trained under control conditions. Using the mean time-in-balance (TIB) as the criterion measure, there were no initial performance differences among groups. Significant TIB performance differences among groups were demonstrated during the supplementary feedback training sessions; the visual/in-balance group demonstrated performance superiority. Final performance measures, obtained after withdrawal from the feedback conditions, were compared among groups; the visual/in-balance group maintained performance superiority over all other study groups. Comparisons within groups, from initial to final performance, indicated that only the control group failed to demonstrate significant performance gains and, therefore, did not acquire the task. The findings showed that only when supplementary auditory and visual feedback training techniques were employed did stabilometer performance improve significantly. The performance superiority of the visual/in-balance condition over all other conditions leads to the conclusion that the supplementary visual feedback technique as a reinforcement to correct responding has the greatest effect on the acquisition of the stabilometer task by educable, mentally retarded children.