A COMPARISON OF SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS OF ELEMENTARY AND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL LEARNING DISABLED CHILDREN

The purpose of this study was to describe and contrast the behaviors of twenty-six third grade and twenty-six seventh grade learning disabled students. The study included analyses related to length of time the student was mainstreamed in regular classes. The extent to which the subjects' behavior differs from that of their regular class peers was also measured. Subjects for the study were enrolled in grades three and seven during the school year 1981-1982. School records were studied to determine the subjects' length of time in the special class and length of time mainstreamed. Behavioral status was assessed by regular classroom teachers' rating of subjects and randomly-selected, same-sex classmates on the Peterson-Quay Behavior Problem Checklist. The differences between group means for behavior, length of time in placement and length of time mainstreamed were tested for significance using a two and three way analysis of variance. A significance level of .05 was used. Results of the analysis of contrasting 3rd and 7th grade behavior problems showed that 3rd grade LD students have a higher number of problems in Conduct, Personality and Inadequacy-Immaturity than 7th grade LD students. Both grade groups showed very few problems in the area of Socialized Delinquent or Psychotic Behavior. Testing of behavior problems based upon regular teacher ratings of LD subjects and their "regular" classroom peers, the LD subjects in both 3rd and 7th grade exhibited significantly more social and behavioral problems than their non-LD peers. Examination of the results of length of time in special class placement and length of time mainstreamed to determine the possible effect of those variables on the study subjects was inconclusive due to the statistical sameness of those variables. It can be concluded that regular education teachers perceived 3rd grade LD subjects as exhibiting more social and behavioral problems than 7th grade LD subjects and all LD subjects in both the 3rd and 7th grade as exhibiting more social and behavioral problems than their "regular" education classmates. Recommendations are made for further research and for improvements in preparation of school personnel for dealing with returning special class students.