In a study involving 75 female undergraduate education majors, attitudes toward a "mentally retarded person" referent were compared with attitudes toward mentally retarded referents who were described in more specific terms (retardation severity and chronological age). (Author/CL)

Investigated were the attitudes of 430 adults toward mentally retarded children. In addition to providing information on demographic characteristics, definition of retardation and degree of contact with retarded people, the Ss rated 48 attitudinal statements pertaining to retarded children. Factor analysis of questionnaire responses revealed four…

The purposes of the study were twofold: to determine whether educable mentally retarded (EMR) students are rejected during overt interactions with nonEMRs, and to determine whether EMRs who were integrated full-time in a nongraded school were perceived by their nonEMR peers to be similar to segregated EMRs or nonEMRs. Forty-two fourth, fifth and…

Attitudes of 499 intellectually average elementary grade children toward educable mentally retarded (EMR) pupils were studied, and replicated 4 months later, in schools serving and not serving EMR pupils. Both sets of findings indicated that attitudes toward EMR pupils were most favorable when the raters had little school contact with the EMR…

The attitudes toward school of retarded children in various school placements were investigated in two studies. The first study compared the attitudes of nonretarded children, and educable mentally retarded children in segregated and integrated class placements. The results indicated that the segregated group posited significantly less favorable…

Reviewed is research dealing with the attitudes of the public, peers and professionals toward the mentally retarded. The contradictory nature of many studies is cited, and the influence of such factors as misconceptions and contact with retardates on public attitudes is described. Studies of peer attitudes toward the retarded are considered in…

The classroom behavior of 11 segregated and 11 integrated educable mentally retarded (EMR) children, 8 to 13 years of age, was compared on a 12-category observation schedule when all EMR children were in special classes, four months after some children had been reintegrated, and at the conclusion of an academic year. The results indicated that…

To determine whether social contact (forced versus voluntary) and reward acquisition (winning versus not winning) were differentially effective in influencing positive attitude change toward educable mentally retarded children (EMRs), 68 nonEMR males in the fourth through sixth grades were asked to select either a same-sex EMR or nonEMR as a…

The study involving 339 third through sixth graders investigated the application of the group discussion paradigm as a vehicle to improve nonhandicapped children's attitudes toward mentally retarded children. (SBH)

Investigated was whether 60 nonretarded children (ages 9 to 12) would imitate the behavior of 20 educable retarded peers more competent in an experimental task. Each nonretarded observer was allowed to imitate the task behaviors of the retarded model who was either more competent, equally competent or less competent than the observer. Results…

Effects of the label "mentally retarded" on attitudes of peers were examined among 48 third grade pupils. Half of the Ss were shown a videotape of an actor displaying acting out behavior, while the remaining Ss were shown a videotape with the same actor engaging in passive behavior. Half of the Ss in each group were told that the actor was a…

Examined were the effects of physical appearance and academic performance on the attitude toward handicapped children of 72 fourth- and fifth-grade students. (Author/CL)

The social position of integrated and segregated educable mentally retarded (EMR) elementary level children in a traditional school building was compared to the social position of a similar group of EMR children in a no-interior-wall school. (Author/MC)