Birth Order, Sex, and Achievement Gain of Institutionalized Retardates

Abstract

Sunzmary.-88 institutionalized retardates were dichotomized by sex and by rwo ordinal positions of birth, i.e., "first-born" and "later-born." I t was hypothesized chat later-borns would improve more in academic achievement than first-borns over an acadcmic year regardless of level of achievement. Also, it was hyporhesized that females would improve more rhan males. The first hypothesis was supported, but no general sex differences were found. Results were discussed in relation to varied patterns of social reinforcement indigenous to institutional staffing patterns.In a recent study, Schachcer (1964) found first-born respondents to a sociometric choice to be Icss popular, to choose relatively fewer people, and to choose more popular people than did later-born Ss. These results, along with Schachcer's earlier work which indicated first-borns were more dependent, led the author to suggest, "To the extent that a person's relationships are established because of what other people think rather than because of his own needs and