Differential categorization of words by learning disabled, gifted, and nonexceptional students

This research was done to answer whether learning disabled students attend to different word features than nonexceptional and gifted students and whether there is a difference by grade. Word sorts of meaningful and nonsense words were used to estimate differences between 145 first- and fifth-grade learning disabled, nonexceptional, and gifted groups. Analyses indicated that 54 learning disabled students were more likely to provide no response or to give simpler responses than 61 nonexceptional or 30 gifted peers. Older children (n = 78) attended to more and varied word features, were more likely to focus on recognizable meaning, and were more able to use syllables as a tool for sorting than were 67 younger children. Significant differences were noted between grade and exceptionality groups. Implications for practical application and further research are discussed.