A 1992 study examined responses from 478 intermediate grades students to determine the activities they prefer and their attitudes toward the role of sports in determining social status. Results showed that academic achievement rated below appearance (girls) and sports (boys) in determining personal popularity. (GLR)

A group of 91 fifth and sixth graders kept diaries of liked and disliked peer behaviors and important peer activities for a week. Another group of 81 fifth and sixth graders rated the importance and prevalence of each activity and indicated most liked and disliked positive and negative behaviors. Three main functions were evident. (RH)

Peer nomination and peer rating procedures are reviewed with regard to their relevance to assessing children's social acceptance and social status in school settings. Strengths, limitations, and potential applications of peer nomination and peer rating sociometric methods are discussed. A new method of capitalizing on the relative strengths of…

The association between bullying behaviour and academic achievement was investigated in 1016 children from primary schools (6-7-year-olds/year 2: 480; 8-9-year-olds/year 4: 536). Children were individually interviewed about their bullying experiences using a standard interview. Key Stage I National Curriculum results (assessed at the end of year…

In certain contexts, some academically advanced students employ coping strategies that manipulate the visibility of their ability. These strategies may include denying giftedness, hiding giftedness, gaining favor by helping others, denying the negative impact on peer acceptance, conforming to mask giftedness, and minimizing focus on popularity.…

This study examined how parental advice-giving directly and indirectly influences children's quality of friendship with peers. Participating were 66 third graders, their classroom teachers, 66 mothers and 57 fathers, and 66 friends. All but one dyad of the target children and friend were the same gender. Teachers rated target children on peer…

Students' willingness to befriend a mentally retarded student was investigated using written vignettes about students said to be enrolling in the subjects' school. The study population included 60 fourth grade students from 5 social studies classes in a small southern community. Students were randomly assigned to experimental or control…

This study investigated: (1) differences in disciplinary styles of full-time, part-time, and nonemployed mothers of older and younger children; and (2) interactive effects of maternal employment status and disciplinary styles on children's peer status. Participants were 144 mothers of 59 first graders and 85 fourth graders who responded to 6…

A study was conducted to investigate the peer concepts held by 16 second-grade, 17 fourth-grade, and 17 sixth-grade students. A paired comparisons sociometric procedure was used to obtain children's descriptions of their classmates in the areas of reading, mathematics, drawing, and an athletic skill (running). In addition, the procedure measured…

This study examines the effects of interdependent goals and cooperative learning environments on conformity in children. Each of the subjects (390 3rd and 4th grade children) was randomly assigned to a 3-child learning group (or to a no-group control) and then to one of seven experimental or control conditions. The experimental conditions and…

Noting that a child's peer competence and sociometric status not only are important indices of the child's current social functioning, but may also predict adolescent adaptation, this study examined the antecedents in peer competence and sociometric status in early and late elementary school years of five peer reputation dimensions. These five…

Information on children's academic achievement and social adjustment was gathered from multiple sources over two years, beginning in grades four and six. Found that children's academic achievement predicted their social competence and peer acceptance; and children's social competence, aggression, leadership, and peer acceptance contributed to…

Defined peer-rated, narrow-band dimensions of undercontrolled behavior of 362 third through sixth grade boys that was associated with peer rejection. Results revealed three narrow-band dimensions in the peer perceptions of grade school boys: (1) aggression; (2) hyperactivity; and (3) inattention-immaturity. (SH)

Used new longitudinal clustering technique to identify and compare groups of children with distinct longitudinal profiles of peer social preference during elementary school. Identified a stable popular group, stable average group, and unpopular group, all with decreasing social preference. Groups showed overlap over time with closest corresponding…

Gender segregation in the classroom is advocated as academically beneficial, particularly for girls. However, the social impact for children has received little attention. The present study compared children's peer relations following the transition from mixed-sex fourth-grade classrooms to same-sex fifth-grade classrooms, and beyond into same-sex…