Melodic Memory Tests: A Comparison of Normal Children and Mental Defectives

Abstract

A melodic memory test divided into two series, one tonal and the other atonal, was given to 480 children of normal intelligence and 396 mental defectives. The normal group ranged in age between 5 years, 6 months, and 16 years, 6 months. The defectives (IQs between 50 and 85) had an age range of 8 years, 4 months, to 16 years, 6 months.

The results demonstrated that the acuity of perceptive discrimination in the defectives was clearly inferior to that of the normal children of the same chronological age and approximated that of normal children of the same mental age. Tonal acculturation was shown by a significantly easier discrimination in the tonal series, in relation to the mental age of the subjects.

Keywords

audiovisual ability aural discrimination learning theory memory physical characteristics psychological characteristics students theory.

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