Robert E. Valett (November 22, 1927 – November 14, 2008) was an American
psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Its subject matter includes the behavior of humans and nonhumans, both consciousness, conscious and Unconscious mind, unconscious phenomena, and mental processes such as thoughts, feel ...
professor who wrote more than 20 books primarily focused on
educational psychology
Educational psychology is the branch of psychology concerned with the scientific study of human learning. The study of learning processes, from both cognitive psychology, cognitive and behavioral psychology, behavioral perspectives, allows researc ...
. He earned the distinguished psychologist award from the
San Joaquin Psychological Association and was a president of the
California Association of School Psychologists.
Early life and education
Robert Edward Valett was born in
Clinton, Iowa
Clinton is a city in and the county seat of Clinton County, Iowa, United States. It borders the Mississippi River. The population was 24,469 as of 2020 United States census, 2020.
Clinton, along with DeWitt, Iowa, DeWitt (also located in Clinto ...
on November 22, 1927. His father, Edward John Valett, worked for the railroad as a pipe fitter and his mother, Myrtle (née Peterson), was a saleswoman. Valett attended
Clinton High School while also achieving the rank of
Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Scouts BSA program of Scouting America. Since its inception in 1911, only four percent of Scouts have earned this rank after a lengthy review process. The Eagle Scout rank has been earned by over ...
in the Boy Scouts of America. During
World War 2
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers. Nearly all of the world's countries participated, with many nations mobilisin ...
, he served in the
U.S. Navy Medical Corps. He then did his undergraduate work at the
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa (U of I, UIowa, or Iowa) is a public university, public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is organized int ...
and
George Williams College
George may refer to:
Names
* George (given name)
* George (surname)
People
* George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George
* George Papagheorghe, also known as Jorge / GEØRGE
* George, stage name of Giorgi ...
. Valett went on to earn an
MA from the
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, or UChi) is a Private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its main campus is in the Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, Chic ...
(1951 ) and an (
Ed.D.) in educational psychology from the
University of California in Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Its academic roots were established in 1881 as a normal school then known as the southern branch of the Cal ...
.
Career
Valett was a professor of psychology at
Orange Coast College
Orange Coast College (OCC) is a Public college, public community college in Costa Mesa, California, Costa Mesa in Orange County, California. It was founded in 1947, with its first classes opening in the fall of 1948. It provides Associate of Ar ...
in
Costa Mesa
Costa may refer to:
Biology
* Rib (Latin: ''costa''), in vertebrate anatomy
* Costa (botany), the central strand of a plant leaf or thallus
* Costa (coral), a stony rib, part of the skeleton of a coral
* Costa (entomology), the leading edge o ...
, Ca., and the
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury (UC; ; postnominal abbreviation ''Cantuar.'' or ''Cant.'' for ''Cantuariensis'', the Latin name for Canterbury) is a public research university based in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was founded in 1873 as Canterbur ...
in New Zealand and taught psychology from 1970 to 1992 at
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno (Fresno State) is a public university in Fresno, California, United States. It is part of the California State University system. The university had a fall 2020 enrollment of 25,341 students. It offers 60 ba ...
where he was named Professor Emeritus. He authored several books on
learning disabilities
Learning disability, learning disorder, or learning difficulty (British English) is a condition in the brain that causes difficulties comprehending or processing information and can be caused by several different factors. Given the "difficulty ...
,
child development
Child development involves the Human development (biology), biological, psychological and emotional changes that occur in human beings between birth and the conclusion of adolescence. It is—particularly from birth to five years— a foundation ...
,
dyslexia
Dyslexia (), previously known as word blindness, is a learning disability that affects either reading or writing. Different people are affected to different degrees. Problems may include difficulties in spelling words, reading quickly, wri ...
and attention disorders/
hyperactivity
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation that are excessive and pervasive, impairing in multiple ...
. He received the distinguished psychologist award from the San Joaquin Psychological Association in 1982 and served as president of the California Association of School Psychologists from 1971 to 1972.
Personal life
In 1950, Valett married Shirley Bellman with whom he had five children. He died on November 14, 2008, in
Fresno
Fresno (; ) is a city in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States. It is the county seat of Fresno County, California, Fresno County and the largest city in the greater Central Valley (California), Central Valley region. It covers a ...
, California.
Books
* ''The Remediation of Learning Disabilities'' -Fearon Publishers 1967
* ''A Psychoeducational Inventory of Basic Learning Abilities'' –
Fearon Publishers
Fearon Publishers is an American publishing company based in Belmont, California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the ...
1968
* ''Developmental Task Analysis'' −1969
* ''Programming Learning Disabilities'' -Fearon 1969
* ''Modifying Children's Behavior: A Guide for Parents and Professionals'' -Fearon 1969
* ''Determining Individual Learning Objectives'' –
Lear Siegler
Lear Siegler Incorporated (LSI) is a diverse American corporation established in 1962. Its products range from car seats and brakes to weapons control systems for military fighter planes. The company's more than $2 billion-a-year annual sales come ...
/Fearon1972
* ''A Basic Screening and Referral Form for Children with Suspected Learning and Behavioral Disabilities'' - Fearon 1972
* ''
Learning Disabilities
Learning disability, learning disorder, or learning difficulty (British English) is a condition in the brain that causes difficulties comprehending or processing information and can be caused by several different factors. Given the "difficulty ...
: Diagnostic-Prescriptive Instruments'' – Lake Pub Co 1973
* ''
Self-actualization
Self-actualization, in Maslow's hierarchy of needs, is the highest personal aspirational human need in the hierarchy. It represents where one's potential is fully realized after more basic needs, such as for the body and the ego, have been fulfill ...
: A Guide to Happiness and Self-Determination'' -Argus Communications 1974
* ''The
Psychoeducational
Psychoeducation (a portmanteau of psychological education) is an evidence-based therapeutic intervention for patients and their loved ones that provides information and support to better understand and cope with illness. Psychoeducation is most of ...
Treatment of
Hyperactive Children'' - Fearon 1974
* ''Affective-Humanistic Education; Goals, Programs & Learning Activities'' - L. Siegler/Fearon Publishers 1974
* ''Humanistic Education: Developing the Total Person'' -
Mosby 1977
* ''Developing Cognitive Abilities: Teaching Children to Think'' – Mosby 1978
* ''The
Dyslexia
Dyslexia (), previously known as word blindness, is a learning disability that affects either reading or writing. Different people are affected to different degrees. Problems may include difficulties in spelling words, reading quickly, wri ...
Screening Survey: A Checklist of Basic
Neuropsychological
Neuropsychology is a branch of psychology concerned with how a person's cognition and behavior are related to the brain and the rest of the nervous system. Professionals in this branch of psychology focus on how injuries or illnesses of the brai ...
Skills'' -Lake 1980
* ''Dyslexia, a Neuropsychological Approach to Educating Children With Severe Reading Disorders'' -Fearon Pitman, Costello Education 1980
* ''Valett Inventory of Critical Thinking Abilities (VICTA)'' -
Wiley
Wiley may refer to:
Locations
*Wiley, Colorado, a U.S. town
*Wiley, Georgia, an U.S. unincorporated community
* Wiley, Pleasants County, West Virginia, U.S.
* Wiley-Kaserne, a district of the city of Neu-Ulm, Germany
People
*Wiley (musician), ...
1981
* ''How to Write an I.E.'' -with
John Arena
John Arena is an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented the 45th ward in the Chicago City Council from 2011 to 2019.
Career Aldermanic career
In 2011, Arena was elected as the alderman of the 45th ward. The 45th wa ...
1989
* ''The Valett
Perceptual-Motor Transitions to Reading Program'' -with Shirley Bellamn Valett, Academic Therapy Publications 1990
* ''Spiritual Guide to
Holistic
Holism is the interdisciplinary idea that systems possess properties as wholes apart from the properties of their component parts. Julian Tudor Hart (2010''The Political Economy of Health Care''pp.106, 258
The aphorism "The whole is greater than t ...
Health and Happiness'' -Authors Choice Press 1997
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Valett, Robert E.
1927 births
2008 deaths
20th-century American psychologists
People from Iowa
Dyslexia researchers