Cognitive differences and similarities between institutionalized and non-institutionalized infants: an intersubject study with WISC-IV

Abstract

The aim of study was identify cognitive differences and similarities between institutionalized infants (orphanage) and noninstitutionalized (living with parents) by applying of four subtests of full-scale WISC-IV (standardized for Mexico), is considered that there are differences between infants cognitive process depending on group membership. The statistical t test for independent samples was used. The results of hypothesis testing showed that there are significant differences in Vocabulary and Letter-number sequencing subtests, where noninstitutionalized infants showed higher scores; while Matrix reasoning and Coding subtests not showed significant differences between groups. Cognitive differences and similarities between groups could depend on social and familiar context, this being a decisive factor children’s cognitive development.