The personal conduct system of the learning disabled child

Empirically-based knowledge of the perceptual systems of learning disabled children is scant. Literature addressing the personal and social attributes of children who experience academic difficulties provides diffuse support for the hypothesis that learning disabled children are likely to perceive themselves and others differently than do their non-exceptional peers.

The triadic sort and repertory grid techniques, formulated by George Kelly (1955) in his psychology of personal constructs, were adapted and applied in order to test the hypothesis. Discriminate analyses of the data revealed the presence of marked differences between the learning disabled and non-exceptional groups in their rankings on the "self" and "student in part-time resource" roles. . Differences in rankings on other stereotypic roles were equivocal.

Generally, learning disabled children tend to be selectively self-critical and self-bolstering. Learning disabled students tend to be less critical of their learning disabled peers than are non-exceptional students. Recommendations are proffered for educators, counselors, and psychologists working with the population in question. Steps are outlined for future empirical investigation.