The Effects of Time Limitations on the Performance of Educable Mentally Retarded Children on a Selected Manipulative Motor Task

This investigation documented changes that occurred in the performance of 30 educable mentally retarded children on a peg placement task when available time for task completion was reduced. The actual pattern of peg placement used by each subject under the various time stressors was charted (random, systematic) as well as number of pegs placed during each time limit condition, as compared to expected levels of performance (equalled, exceeded, or below expectations). (a) Performance did not degrade with increasing time constraints, (b) too much or too little available time increased the use of random placements, (c) 34% of all trials using a random pattern fell below expected performances, and (d) 81% of all trials which exceeded expected performances were performed with systematic peg placement. The results were related to the effects of stress (time) on the performance of children.