Noting that both stress and social support play an important role in middle school students' adjustment and motivation for school, two studies compared the stress and social support experienced by students entering middle school in different settings. The two studies of middle school students included overlapping measures of stress, social…

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of mentorship and advising as related to underrepresented minority (URM) students' experience and performance in medical school. URM students (n=23) from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine who matriculated in 1994 and 1995, and who were determined to be at risk of delay or…

This book examines the interactions of Mexican and Chinese immigrant students with other students from the same country (co-nationals) and their exchanges of information about experiences in U.S. schools. Research focused on 74 Chinese and 78 Mexican immigrant students, aged 11-17, in Boston and the San Francisco Bay Area, who received…

A study compared counseling interests of University of Maryland black freshmen in 1984 (n=90) and 1994 (n=265). Results suggest educational/vocational (EV) counseling was preferred over emotional/social (ES) counseling, males and females had similar counseling interests, and interest in seeking EV counseling was consistently higher than interest…

Investigates using functional assessment with nondisabled, at-risk children in general education settings. Explores the combined and interactive effects of teacher and peer attention on problem behavior. Results extend functional assessment research by using a multiple assessment strategy in natural classroom contexts, involving general education…

Examined social network characteristics of 218 college freshmen. Subjects were of European American descent or of ethnically and racially diverse backgrounds (African American, Hispanic, Native American and Asian American). The study associated social adjustment with family support characteristics for the racially and ethnically diverse students…

Rates of change in behaviors in relation to community adjustment were examined for 292 participants in the 7-year longitudinal National Adolescent and Child Treatment Study (NACTS) as they transitioned to the adult world. Participants with initially higher social-adaptive behavior and whose behavior improved over time attained higher adjustment…

Used qualitative and quantitative methods to examine how 40 Japanese mothers from working-class and middle-class backgrounds supported their child's transition to first grade. Found that mothers reported higher self-efficacy if they had one child, if their child was a boy, and if they had memories of being more frequently rejected by their own…

Two studies examined elementary school students' self-beliefs over time and how the transition to middle school affected those beliefs. Found that self-esteem did not change during elementary school but decreased following the middle school transition. Competence beliefs and beliefs about the usefulness and importance of different activities…

Attitudes of gifted students placed in homogeneous classes were compared to students not identified as gifted in regular heterogeneous classes. Student perceptions of themselves as learners, student perceptions of teachers' behaviors and expectations, and academic achievement were assessed for 105 students in grades 5 and 8. (SW)

A survey of 466 students in a large, urban commuter college investigated the relationship of student finances to academic persistence. Results suggest that financial aid (1) equalizes opportunities for students, thus decreasing attractiveness of alternatives, (2) facilitates academic and social integration, and (3) increases student commitment to…

Children (n=185) identified as at risk because of poverty were assessed on overall adjustment and academic progress during grades 1-3. Results suggested that excellent decisions were made in terms of who received special educational assistance. There did not appear to be any bias in the referral process. (Author/JDD)

A survey of 40 graduating seniors at a small, Christian liberal arts college found student-faculty interaction perceived as a positive influence on student personal and intellectual growth, career and educational goals, especially for higher achieving students and humanities/natural science majors. Implications for administration, staff, students,…

This study evaluated the "I Found a Solution" computer-assisted social skills intervention program with 87 mildly mentally retarded students (ages 10-18) in 2 Israeli special schools. Following training, teachers rated trained students as demonstrating better task orientation and less aggression and behavior difficulties. The second…

Describes a study of the influence of college culture on Hispanic community college student progress, drawing from interviews with administrators, faculty, and staff. Presents findings regarding the importance of the family, economic considerations, students' knowledge of the college system, cultural understanding, and relationships with feeder…