Emphasizing the developmental need for positive peer relationships, in this study the authors tested a social-contextual view of the mechanisms and processes by which early adolescents' achievement and peer relationships may be promoted simultaneously. Meta-analysis was used to review 148 independent studies comparing the relative effectiveness of…

Three types of student-student interaction patterns (cooperative, competitive, and individualistic) can be structured for learning of physical skills. Students were studied to observe which type of interaction process promoted learning the golf skill of putting. Results are presented. (Author/DF)

A theoretical orientation to three goal structures (cooperation, competition, and individualization) is postulated, based upon Deutsch's extension of Lewin's theory of motivation. Lewin postulated that a state of tension within a person motivates movement toward the accomplishment of desired goals; a goal structure specifies the type of…

The authors review studies on the effects of these three types of learning situations on students' motivation, self-concept, attitudes, and psychological health. While concluding that all three can be appropriately used in the classroom, they give particular attention to the teacher's role in implementing cooperative activities. (SJL)

Cooperation promoted stronger student perceptions of teacher academic/personal support than did individualistic learning experiences, stronger perceptions of peer academic/personal support than either competitive or individualistic learning experiences, and higher achievement than the other two conditions. Competition promoted higher achievement…