Girls are consistently found to have higher literacy levels than their male peers and to consume more social narrative fiction. This study conducted interviews with four autistic girls to better understand how reading fiction can inform the camouflaging behaviours of autistic girls. Participants described how imitating characters embodying desired…

In this study, the situation of Syrian refugee children, their acceptance by their peers, and their socialisation with one another were examined. The research was conducted using a case study design and a qualitative research method. Twenty-nine Turkish pupils were selected using a purposive sampling method. The school with the highest number of…

This study focuses on children's participation in community and the research question is as follows: "What do children describe as hallmarks influencing their ability to participate in the ECEC community?" The study is based on a qualitative hermeneutic analysis of semi-structured group interviews with 12 five-year-old children from…

This mixed-method research explores how students (ages 12-15) describe dispositional qualities for belonging and fitting in one junior high school. Inductive coding of open-ended responses about perceptions of belonging in school shows candor about the emotional performances and management of emotions for belonging at school. Recommendations for…

School racial climate is an important aspect of the school environment that can have significant implications for youths' development. However, existing research is limited by conceptual and methodological concerns that restrict the ability of researchers and educators to identify "what" about and "how" the racial climate is…

Based on theory and research, social aspects like friendship and sense of relatedness are fundamental in the development of children's cultural identity and achievement of outcomes. It is argued that this is a motivational aspect often neglected in research studies focusing on students' motivation and learning. Theory and research on motivation…

To compare the culturally acquired aspects of fears in two different cultures, the author gave an augmented version of the I. M. Marks and A. M. Mathews Fear Scale (1979) to 50 female students in China and 49 female students in England. When the rank ordering of the fears measured in both groups was compared, the author found a high positive…

This paper presents a method of identifying classroom social structures that can be used by teachers involved with writing behavioral objectives and Individualized Education Plans (IEP). By measuring the classroom environment, one has a greater probability of achieving the desired learning environment. A sociometric test enables the teacher to…

Investigation of the social preferences of typically developing children (N=40) toward peers (N=19) with special needs in inclusive preschool classrooms found the children with special needs received few positive playmate preference nominations, but did not receive a significant number of negative nominations. Children were disliked if they were…

Study results indicate that positive social interactions between nonhandicapped and handicapped students in the integrated music classroom, with increases in nonhandicapped students' acceptance of handicapped students, are not a result of music classroom experiences and music instruction alone, but also of the degree to which teaching conditions…

Documents the responses of band students to a questionnaire consisting of statements regarding the inclusion of students with disabilities in the school band. Analyzes the responses of students who watched a video depicting the successful inclusion of disabled students and of those who did not view the video. (MJP)

Explores the effects of 417 regular education students' acceptance of 41 learning disabled classmates. Participants were upper elementary students enrolled in either cooperative or competitive learning classes. After eight months positive changes in peer ratings among the students occurred more frequently in the cooperative learning classes. (MJP)