| This study explores the ability of individuals with mild intellectual disabilities (ID) to verbally describe their phenomenological social cognitive experiences using the Gottschalk-Gleser scales of verbal content. A sample of 26 adults receiving services through their local California Regional Center for individuals with developmental disabilities were recruited through flyers sent to their homes and also posted at a large self-advocacy conference. All participants were able to produce a 5 minute verbal sample that was analyzed by content analysis using the PCAD 2000 (Gottschalk & Bechtel, 2002).;The research observed measures on six scales: Cognitive and Intellectual Impairment, Hope, Human Relations, Achievement Strivings, Dependency Strivings, and Quality of Life. While the sample means on the Cognitive Impairment scale did not differ significantly from the normative mean, the differences of scores on several other social cognitive variables were highly significant. Scores on social cognitive variables such as Hope and Achievement Strivings indicated individuals in the sample had high levels of positive feelings and positive expectations for the future. Alternately, variables such as Dependency Strivings and Human Relations indicated that participants had frustrated social desires that felt perhaps beyond their reach. The scores on the Quality of Life variable (an aggregate score of several variables) for individuals living in licensed residential settings indicated higher levels of satisfaction with their quality of life than those individuals living in less restrictive settings.;Verbal content analysis, such as the Gottschalk-Gleser, has not been used to explore the experiences of this population. More empirical research is needed that asks individuals with ID about their experiences and their feelings regarding their social cognitions, as they create, a satisfying life for themselves within their communities.;Keywords: Social cognition, intellectual disabilities, verbal content analysis, Gottschalk-Gleser scale. |
