Date of Award
4-1987
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. Galen J. Alessi
Second Advisor
Dr. Neil Kent
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
In order to ascertain if aerobic exercise would facilitate task performance, two mentally retarded adults exercised five days a week and performed three discrimination tasks three days a week. Baseline performance was determined for the two subjects on the tasks which involved shape discrimination, picture discrimination, number discrimination, and sequencing. After their baseline performance was determined, the participants began an exercise program which worked toward increasing their pulse rates to an aerobic level (150% of resting pulse). Subsequently, the subjects performed the discrimination tasks immediately after exercise. After this intervention period, baseline performance was again determined. The results indicated that generally the exercise improved the performance of both subjects.
Recommended Citation
DeGroot, Steven, "Increasing Appropriate Behavior Using Antecedent Physical Exercise in Mentally Retarded Adults" (1987). Masters Theses. 1225.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/1225