Forty-six intermediate grade students expressed their attitudes toward an unknown mentally retarded student presented in a videotape, and indicated their social acceptance, rejection, or neglect of a mentally retarded peer in their classroom. Children's attitudes toward the videotaped child were related to their sociometric choices of the retarded…

The assigned and received social status of mildly learning-disabled, mildly behaviorally disordered, and nonhandicapped high school students (n=66) was examined. The samples' social status differed significantly from a larger nonhandicapped population. Cross-categorical comparisons of assigned social status showed no significant differences,…

A study involving 47 male and 51 female third and fourth graders analyzed the relation between five subtypes of aggressive behavior and sociometric status as assessed via ratings by peers and by eight teachers. Social status and gender were significantly related to type of aggression exhibited. (TJH)

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…

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…

Peer popularity was compared across three groups of preschool children: (1) children with normally developing language skills; (2) children with speech and/or language impairments; and (3) children learning English as a Second Language. Normally developing children were the most popular. A receptive measure of single word vocabulary was the best…

Three studies examined preadolescents for the relation between perceived deviance and negative peer reactions. In the first study, perceived deviance was related to social rejection. In the second and third studies, children's perceptions of responsibility for deviance predicted interpersonal affect and the degree to which the deviant person was…

Presents a network-assessment technique and examples showing how group experiences affect children's behavior. Compares classical sociometry and the use of composite social maps. Discusses quantifying peer-network information, using peer-network profiles as context descriptors, and identifying change in children and networks. Shows that peer-group…

The purpose of the present study is to examine the relative importance of sex and race preference as a basis for the choice of playmates and working companions in integrated elementary school classrooms. Subjects were 242 third-grade children from 11 randomly chosen classrooms. Twenty-one per cent of the children were black. A roster-and-rating…

Investigated with five communication handicapped and four model (normal) children were communication patterns and friendship choices in a mainstreamed preschool setting. A review of literature revealed a controversy as to whether mainstreamed communication handicapped children receive appropriate verbal models and whether mainstreaming helps…

Sociometric analysis of characteristics of 29 high scoring and 29 low scoring hearing-impaired students indicated that students accepted by their peers typically were enrolled in the special school for a longer period, were female, and demonstrated favorable behavioral adjustment. Intelligence quotient and academic achievement were related to peer…

Elementary-school children in Cuba and Canada participated in measures of loneliness, sociometric status, friendship, aggression, and social withdrawal. Withdrawal was associated with loneliness in the Cuban data from both cohorts, Grade 4 and Grade 6. In the Canadian data, withdrawal was only linked to loneliness in Grade 6. In contrast with…

This study examined the educational and social conditions of 215 hard-of-hearing students (grades 1 to 11) in Sweden, 157 of whom were placed in regular classes, usually as the only hard-of-hearing student in the class. The study interviewed the pupils, surveyed parents and teachers, and conducted a sociometric analysis. Results indicated that the…

A review and analysis of relevant literature discusses the heterogeneity of social competence observed in learning disabled children. Sociometric group classification is judged to be a viable behavioral classification framework. Inconsistencies are noted in the way peer popularity, peer acceptance, and sociometric status are defined in the…