Examined relations between children's and their friends' perceptions of friendship features as a function of children's sociometric status. Found rejected children's perceptions showed considerably lower correlations with friends' perceptions than did average and popular children's perceptions; rejected children's friends perceived their…

Examined the relationship between three behaviors (physical aggression, relational aggression, and prosocial behaviors) and three social outcomes (peer rejection, acceptance, and reciprocal friendships) in 131 third-graders and 135 sixth-graders. Found that among girls, but not boys, relational aggression explained variance in rejection beyond…

Examined children's social status, friendship, and adjustment. Found that peer relationships contributed uniquely to children's socioemotional adjustment, academic performance, and self-concept. Peer status also affected adjustment, with peer rejection and neglect being significant negative predictors. Effects of friendship appeared positive, with…

Examined natural behavior contingencies as mechanisms by which peers influence children's school motivation. Found that the more students were motivated, the more likely they were to receive approval from peer-group members following active, on-task behaviors. The less students were motivated, the more they received disapproval from nonmembers…

Peers are rarely credited as the source of positive behaviors; rather credit is given to the child or the parent for doing a good job. This introduction provides an overview of some of the methodological complications involved in studying peer influence, and discusses a new model for conceptualizing peer influence. (Author/SD)