Date of Graduation

1972

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Abstract

It was the purpose of this investigation to study the use of concrete and abstract stimuli in the development of perceptual abilities of disadvantaged five year old children. Hypotheses to be tested were (1) that subjects who were presented a curriculum of concrete stimuli initially and progressing to stimuli if abstraction would have greater perceptual development than those subjects who were presented a curriculum of abstract stimuli, and (2) that subjects receiving curricula of concrete and abstract stimuli would have greater perceptual development than subjects serving as the Control Group. Subjects (N=44) were enrolled in Head Start and received the Developmental Test of Visual Perception both pre and post. Subjects enrolled in the Arthurdale Head Start Center served as the Control Group, receiving no perceptual training. Subjects enrolled in the Tioga Head Start Center received perceptual training utilizing concrete stimuli found in the subjects' environment. Subjects receiving training utilizing abstract stimuli were enrolled in the Richwood Head Start Center. The duration of the investigation was one month (twenty days). Analysis of data revealed support for Hypothesis #1 when overall perceptual development was considered. No support was found for Hypothesis #2. Analysis of the subtests data revealed no support for Hypotheses #1 or #2, except subtest 5, Spatial Relationships, which supported Hypothesis #1.

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