Reported Skills of Chosen Children

A study was set up to test 6 hypotheses concerning the reliability of interview data about self help skills of retarded children, the differences in reliability of reports on the skills of children who were or were not in special programs, the probability of being liked as a function of the child's competence in comparison with ward mates, and the reliability of interview data on self help skills of infants. Children were observed repeatedly by trained, experience staff; interviews were conducted with direct care personnel; assignment of children for observations and interviews was counterbalanced. The Vineland Social Maturity Scale and a “likeability” measure were used. Only partial support was obtained for the hypothesis concerning infants; all other hypotheses were clearly supported.