A study of digit span capacity in deaf and hearing subjects

Springer, Stephen Alan (1973) A study of digit span capacity in deaf and hearing subjects. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

The effect of different stimulus sets (regular digits, spatial and somatic sensory digits, and the signs for the digits) on the span capacity of deaf and hearing Ss was investigated. Results were recorded for forward and reverse recall over pre and post-cued conditions for all stimulus sets. Span capacity of hearing Ss remained invariant to stimulus set. Span capacity of deaf Ss, while inferior to that of the hearing group, improved with sign digit presentation. Serial position analyses revealed that both deaf and hearing Ss demonstrated forward/reverse effects (i.e. forward span greater than reverse span). Finally, no difference in performance was observed over pre and post-cued conditions for hearing Ss, while deaf Ss performed better on pre than post-cued conditions. Results are discussed in terms of capacity, rehearsal and coding aspects of short term memory performance.

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