The purpose of this study was to investigate the short-term auditory memory of a group of institutionalized mentally retarded subjects. The effect of manipulating methods of presenting the digits in a digit span test was examined and the relationships between auditory memory for digits and various subject variables were explores. The hypotheses studied were: 1) There will be no significant difference in digit span scores because of a difference in the rate of presentation of the digits; 2) There will be no significant difference in digit span scores when a reward is given for the correct answer; 3) There will be no significant difference in digit span scores when visual distraction are decreased, and 4) There will be no significant difference in digit span scores when the first digit of the set is stressed.
Elizabeth Smyth Hirsch (Thu,) studied this question.