Selective attention and intelligence in children with mild intellectual disability

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between attention and intelligence in children with mild intellectual disability (MID). The sample consists of 60 children with MID (43-45,3% of girls and 52-54,7% of boys) aged between 10 and 14 years. The mean total intelligence quotient in the sample is 60 (M=59,88, SD=7,31). Selective attention was assessed by modified Day/Night version of the Stroop test. The x2 test, Pearson's coefficients of correlation, t-test, and one-way and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used in the statistical analysis. Research results shows that time needed to complete each parts of the Stroop test significantly and negatively correlate with total and verbal IQ score. Correlation between time needed to complete the first part of the Stroop test and nonverbal IQ score is somewhat below the threshold of statistical significance (p=0,071). Intelligence is significantly related to development of the basic level of selective attention, assessed with the first part of the Stroop test, and explains somewhat less than 10% of the results variability (partial η2=0,094).

Cilj ovog rada je utvrđivanje odnosa između pažnje i inteligencije kod dece sa lakom intelektualnom ometenošću. Uzorkom je obuhvaćeno 60-oro dece (43-45,3% devojčiš i 52-54,7% dečaka) sa lakom intelektualnom ometenošću, uzrasta 10-14 godina. Prosečan totalni koeficijent inteligencije u uzorku iznosi oko 60 jedinica (AS=59,88, SD=7,31). Za procenu selektivne pažnje korišćena je adaptirana Dan/noć verzija Strup testa. U statističkoj obradi podataka su korišćeni h2 test, Pirsonov koeficijent korelacije, t -test, jednofaktorska i dvofaktorska analiza varijanse. Vreme rešavanja oba dela Strup testa statistički značajno negativno korelira sa totalnim i verbalnim IQ-om. Korelacija vremena rešavanja prvog dela Strup testa i neverbalnog IQ-a je nešto ispod granice statističke značajnosti (p=0,071). Inteligencija je značajno povezana sa razvojem bazičnog nivoa selektivnosti pažnje, procenjenog prvim delom Strup testa, pri čemu objašnjava nešto manje od 10% varijabilnosti rezultata (parcijalni η2=0,094).