A Study of Fourth Grade Children’s Comprehension of Certain Verbal Abstractions

Abstract

ions Used in this Study. ?Three sets of primary basic readers and a set of science books were analyzed for 246 verbal abstractions: (1) Easy Growth in Reading Series,2 (2) Curric ulum Foundation Series, 3 (3) Betts Basic Read ers, 4 and (4) The Wonderworld of Science.^ Tests Used in this Study. ?One standardized test and three instruments that were construct ed for this study were used. The Stanford-Binet Test of Intelligence, Form L, 1937 Revision, was the standardized test used to determine the verbal intelligence of the population. The other three instruments were: (1) an inventory on background of information, (2) a test on class ifying ideas, and (3) a test on indexing ideas. Statistical Procedures. ?The subjects were given a series of tests to measure various abil ities. To determine whether the instruments used to measure certain abilities were signifi cant, two statistical techniques were employed: 1. The standard error of the difference be tween proportions was used to determine significance of items. 2. The reliability of the tests was establish ed by using the split-half method and the Spearman-Brown Prophecy-Formula. The results obtained from the tests were compared by employing the Pearson Product Moment Formula. This technique was used be cause it provided a way of determining the re lationship existing among various abilities.