Problem solving and strategy production in mentally retarded persons

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Special Education

Background:

• Decades of research suggest individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) lack spontaneous strategy production and generalization.
• This perceived deficit is often linked to underlying issues in higher-order cognitive control and knowledge systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing research on strategy use in individuals with ID.
• To challenge the notion that individuals with ID are inherently non-strategic.
• To identify factors influencing strategy production and generalization.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies investigating problem-solving strategies in individuals with intellectual disabilities.
• Analysis of factors affecting strategy use, including task comprehension and instructional methods.

Main Results:

• Individuals with ID demonstrate strategic behavior when task demands are clear and understood.
• Generalization of strategies is achievable through instructional experience with diverse task examples.
• Superordinate, representational, and nonvolitional factors play a role in strategy use.

Conclusions:

• The capacity for strategic problem-solving in individuals with ID is often underestimated.
• Effective instruction and clear task comprehension are crucial for eliciting strategic behavior.
• Further research should explore the interplay of cognitive factors in strategy development for individuals with ID.