John F. Teare’s research while affiliated with Boys Town and other places

The behavioral adjustment of 23 children attending a residential school for the blind was examined using a well-standardized behavior rating scale. Ratings of internalizing, externalizing, and overall problem behaviors were obtained from either the dorm or natural parents, using Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Stepwise multiple regression analyses of demographic and intellectual variables indicated that WISCR Verbal IQ accounted for 50% of the variation in the adjustment ratings. Compared with the CBCL's sighted reference group, the blind children had a significantly greater number of internally directed problem behaviors, although the mean I score was still within the normal range. Implications for clinicians evaluating visually impaired children are discussed.

Studies about the characteristics, assessment, and treatment of impulsive children are reviewed and summarized from the viewpoint of their application to school settings. Research has indicated that impulsive children often display such characteristics as global search-and-scan strategies, poor selective attention, low anxiety over errors, aggressive social behavior, immaturity of moral reasoning, externalized behavior problems, and deficient reading skills. Impulsivity has typically been assessed with visual discrimination tests and behavioral ratings by teachers. Treatment of impulsivity has included cognitive training such as modeling and self-instructional training, and behavioral methods such as positive reinforcement and response cost. Specific recommendations about the assessment and treatment of impulsivity in school are emphasized.

Although high correlations were obtained between both forms of the Perkins-Binet and the Wechsler scales of intelligence, there were substantial differences in the standard deviations for the different tests. (Author/SW)