The role of interaction and the importance of relationships with peers and significant others in the development of gifted adolescent girls' self-perceptions of ability are explored. Findings are based on a qualitative study which utilized participant-observation, interviewing, and artifact collection in one middle school. Ten girls (grades 6-8)…

Three studies were conducted to examine variables that facilitate or hamper interaction between disabled and able-bodied college students. In study 1, 100 able-bodied Ss completed two adjective checklists identifying socially desirable and undesirable characteristics; a second group of 94 abled-bodied Ss were tested using another set of traits.…

Systematic observations and ratings by self and others were part of an ethnographic approach to studying the self-concept of 48 severely to mildly mentally retarded adults in a sheltered workshop setting. Ss completed both the Self-Esteem Inventory for Adults and "The Way I Feel About Myself" Self-Concept Scale. Rehabilitation counselors completed…

This study examined parents' behaviors and interactional tone in a family setting and children's behaviors and interactional tone with unfamiliar peers, the association between parents' behaviors and interactional tone and children's peer ratings, and the relation between children's behaviors and interactional tone with peers and children's peer…

This study evaluated two social skills interventions designed to increase the peer acceptance of six students (ages 10-12) with learning disabilities in regular classrooms. The students were instructed in two social skills strategies as well as in skills for working in small groups and leading group activities. Two mnemonic devices were used to…

Social interactions in Head Start mainstreamed classrooms were studied using as Ss 20 mildly and moderately retarded preschool children and 20 nonretarded children. Data analyzed consisted of the following social interactions: initiations, responses, mode of communication, and affective tone of behavior. Findings showed that retarded Ss generally…

The purpose of this study was to identify child characteristics associated with varying rates of oral participation in classrooms. The study also attempted to determine why some children seek social approval through an approach strategy while others use an avoidance strategy. Anxiety, defensiveness, self-concept of school ability, sociometric…

This paper focuses on the theory and rationale of assessing the social behavior of children. It is asserted that child social behavior must be assessed accurately in order to do research on socialization. Socialization is defined as the process by which an individual learns to interact with others. It is proposed that it is possible to design a…

The purpose of this study was to characterize the nature of conversational engagement evidenced by 30 learning-disabled and 30 nondisabled children while they participated in a semi-structured dyadic interaction. Also investigated were the relationships among the levels of engagement employed by the elementary or junior high students and their…

This study focused on self-perceptions of social relationships of hearing-impaired adolescents. Three sets of perceptions regarding social relationships were investigated: participation, relatedness, and perceived social competence. The Social Activity Scale was administered to 84 mainstreamed hearing-impaired adolescents in secondary schools and…

Interpersonal presence refers to the cues individuals use to form impressions of one another and form/maintain relationships. The physical cues used to convey interpersonal presence in face-to-face learning environments are absent in text-based computer-mediated conferencing (CMC) courses. Learners' perceptions of interpersonal presence in CMC…