Strategy production by young Down syndrome children

A sample of young Down syndrome children was compared with three nonretarded samples, one equated for developmental age, one for language age, and one for ability to delay touching an attractive but prohibited stimulus. Results indicated that Down syndrome children were significantly less able to delay touching than were nonretarded children of similar developmental or language level; in addition, several kinds of within-task strategy behavior were identified that facilitated performance of the nonretarded children. These included turning attention, verbal and nonverbal, away from the stimulus. Implications for assessment were discussed, as were ramifications for the question of "developmental vs. difference" conceptualizations of mental retardation.