Cognitive abilities of orphans in Karnataka: A pilot study

The research on cognitive abilities of orphans was conducted in the year 2016–2017 in Dharwad Taluka, Karnataka state with an objective to know the cognitive abilities of orphans. Data were collected using Wechsler's scale of intelligence, socio-economic status scale and self-structured questionnaire to collect auxiliary information. About 60 orphans were randomly selected in the age range of 6 to 18 years to know their cognitive abilities. Results revealed that 36.70 per cent of orphans were in the average, 51.70 per cent in below average and only 11.70 per cent in high level of intelligence. With respect to verbal test scores there was significant difference between boys and girls only in arithmetic sub-test and mean scores indicated that girls performed better than boys. In case of performance sub-test there was significant difference between boys and girls in block design and mazes sub-tests and mean scores indicated that boys performed better than girls. There was no significant difference between boys and girls in verbal intelligent quotient (IQ), performance IQ and total intelligence. Mean indices of cognitive process showed that there was significant difference between boys and girls in freedom from distractibility mean scores indicating that girls were better than boys. Both boys and girls were similar in verbal comprehension, processing speed and perceptual speed.