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)

A review of the literature on the socioemotional development and status of hard-of-hearing students in regular classes identifies sources of negative attitudes to which students may be exposed. These include the presence of a hearing aid, requests for clarification, speech impediments, erroneous information in available literature, confusing…

Studied whether co-parenting and family-group process influence early social competence. Found indirect pathways linking low levels of support and mutuality in the co-parenting relationship to problematic peer relationships, and direct pathways linking the family's affective climate to positive peer behavior. Discovered that effects were strongest…

Examined relationship between child behavior and peer preference from the person-group similarity and the social-skill models with 2,895 first graders. Found support for both predictive models, with the acceptability aggression and withdrawal varying across classrooms and the effects of inattentive/hyperactive behavior and prosocial behavior…

Explored the relation between measures of emotional competence, behavioral regulation, and general social competence and African American preschoolers' peer acceptance and popularity. Found that gender, emotional knowledge, emotion regulation, and themes of violence in response to hypothetical situations of interpersonal conflict were strongly…

Examined influence of teacher feedback on children's (n=91) evaluations of hypothetical videotaped peers, presented as being liked, disliked, or neutral by the teacher. Teacher feedback had a significant and discriminative effect on subjects' perceptions of the peers. Implications for classroom intervention are discussed. (SNR)

Exploration, in three elementary classes, of the social affiliations of students who were either academically gifted or had learning or emotional/behavioral difficulties found students formed distinct peer clusters around shared characteristics, particular social characteristics were associated with students' level of centrality in the classroom,…

This study examined factors associated with relative stability of peer rejection among elementary school-aged children. Results of prospective and retrospective analyses suggested that perceived social status, participation in extracurricular activities, locus of control, and parental monitoring were all positively related to status improvement…

Interviewed preschoolers about straightforward exclusion and inclusion for two gender stereotypic peer-group contexts: activities and role-play. Found that all children evaluated straightforward exclusion based on gender as wrong and used moral reasons. Preliminary inclusion decisions in the activity contexts were based on stereotypic…

This study examined relations between children's humor, behavioral characteristics, acceptance by peers in kindergarten and primary school, and self-perceptions. Subjects were 35 kindergarten, 88 fourth grade, and 95 eighth grade Norwegian children. For all students, assessments included sociometric ratings of classmates, teacher assessments of…

The study examined teacher and peer assessment of 34 mainstreamed educable mentally retarded (EMR) children in grades 3 through 6 in nine public schools in central Illinois. A comparison sample of 34 nonretarded Ss was matched to the EMR Ss on sex, race, and grade level. Children in each S's regular classroom were asked to rate on a five-point…

A brief description is provided of a successful peer tutoring model implemented by Portsmouth High School (New Hampshire) in which student tutors volunteer to work under the direct supervision of the special educator on reading, math, science, and pre-vocational skills. Peer tutor responsibilities on assisting students in reading are presented,…

The purpose of this study was to see if a social learning method for training verbal social skills might influence the social effectiveness of third grade children with low peer acceptance. Children were trained in three verbal skills: asking questions of peers; leading peers (e.g., offering useful suggestions or directions); and, offering…

This paper presents a discussion of the integration of handicapped children into preschool programs. The paper is divided into five sections. The first section defines some of the terms frequently used in discussions of mainstreaming. These terms include mainstreaming; normalization; P. L. 94-142, the law providing for education for all…

The purpose of this study was to design, develop, field test, and recommend survey instruments and procedures for comparing the perception by their peers of the sociological status of vocational students both in area vocational centers and in high school vocational courses. Following a review of related literature, instruments were drafted, and…