Within the framework of Pascual-Leone's Theory of Constructive Operators
(TCO), 252 Zulu-speaking children in the 7-8 , 9-10 and 11-12 age-groups
were tested four times on the FIT RAC 794, a measure of mental capacity
or !i-power.
Two hypotheses were investigated: (i) A "local" hypothesis (related to the
fact that many black South African schoolchildren appear to struggle at
school) was that 'all children have the same A-power. Performance
differences are explained in terms of different learning experiences,
which give rise to different repertoires of executive structures
responsible for allocating M-power. It was predicted that on Trial 1 of
the FIT children would underperform, but that with repeated exposure to
the task they would develop the executives necessary for success. (ii) A
"general" hypothesis sought to test the TCO's theoretical prediction that
there is an age-linked developmental ceiling on performance, and that in
spite of over-learning children will not perform beyond their age -determined
M-power.
As predicted the children underperformed on Trial 1. They reached
criterion on Tri a1 2 and then overperformed on Tri a1 3 where performance
reached a ceiling with no further significant improvement on Trial 4.
The fact that chiIdren achieved scores above those predicted by the TCO
on Trials 3 and 4 was explained in terms of non-M facilitating factors,
developed as the result of over-exposure to the test. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1985.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ukzn/oai:http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za:10413/6110 |
| Date | January 1985 |
| Creators | Campbell, Catherine Magda. |
| Contributors | Miller, Ronald. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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