[Review of the book Special Disability in Algebra

Abstract

Reviews the book, Special Disability in Algebra by Percival Mallon Symonds (see record 1924-10504-000 ). In this study Professor Symonds has given his attention to a special disability--disability in Algebra. The monograph is divided into nine chapters. He has also appended a selected bibliography of fifty-eight titles. The scope of the study can best be presented by a statement of the subject of the several chapters. Chapter I presents the problem of special disability and suggests methods of study. In Chapter II there is a discussion of individual differences in Algebra as indicated by the results obtained from the use of tests by Hotz and Rogers. Chapter III describes the results of a careful study of twenty-two pupils selected because of their special disability in Algebra. In Chapter IV we find descriptions of the peculiar mathematical disabilities of several of the cases selected for study in Chapter III. In Chapter V and VI methods for correcting coefficients of correlations for attenuation and selection are developed. Chapter VII makes corrections of coefficients of correlation reported by different investigators The methods used in making these corrections are those outlined in Chapters V and VI. In Chapter VIII we find the author's attempt to interpret the corrected correlations of Chapter VII as an agency in determining the amount and frequency of special disability in Algebra. In the last Chapter the practical conclusions for school purposes are summarized. Certain facts brought out by the study are of interest to students of applied psychology. While the study has limitations, on the whole it is a valuable contribution to education and should stimulate similar studies in other subjects. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)