The focus of this newsletter is on the findings of a two-year nationwide study of adolescent girls. The study undertook to identify the wide variety of needs, aspirations, and concerns of young women 12- to 18-years old. Nine hundred and twenty women were interviewed in both rural and urban settings, representing a wide range of racial, religious,…

This report presents initial findings of a field study which focused on the academic achievement and behavioral and social adjustment of 148 kindergarten children who entered first grade early. The study took place in Broward County, Florida, following implementation of the 1973 state legislation permitting early entrance into first grade for…

The Instructor's Guide is intended for use in training adult leaders to foster understanding and involvement of the handicapped in Boy Scout troop activities. Suggestions are offered for organizing two leadership training sessions which include defining types of handicaps, conducting buzz group discussions on similarities between handicapped and…

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of the "Developing Understanding of Self and Others" (Duso) Guidance Program on the self-concepts of Appalachian primary school children who were matched on intelligence, and randomly assigned to classes. The subjects in the sample numbered 126 at the third grade level, 112 at the…

Learning disabled (LD) students are often poorly accepted by peers and exhibit deficits in social skills. Research on LD students' social behavior is reviewed and the definition, assessment, and classification of social skill deficits are discussed. Needed improvements in professional training, in practice, and in public policy relating to LD…

Nondisabled students (n=65) and disabled students (n=120) from mainstreamed grades 6 through 12 were surveyed and compared to non-mainstreamed controls. Responses were analyzed in the categories of stereotypes, peer-ratings, and self-ratings. Nondisabled students favorably described the disabled in general, but descriptions of actual disabled…

Examines the ethnic, age, and gender playmate perferences of deaf and hearing preschoolers who were observed during outdoor free play at their respective schools over a 7-month period. Hispanic, black, and white children were included. (HOD)

This book draws on findings from a 2-year study that followed ten children with Down syndrome (ages 3-10) across 13 classrooms and accounts of high-school aged students with Down syndrome, in order to provide a detailed picture of schooling, Down syndrome, and disability. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the contrasting cultural images of…

Adolescents' best friendships are often believed to contribute to their psychosocial adjustment. This study examined the relationship between students' adjustment to school and the positive features, negative features, and frequency of interaction in their friendships. Participating were 106 students, 90 percent of whom were white, in a small…

Research on popularity during childhood and early adolescence suggests that children who are perceived as popular by peers are not necessarily the same children who are sociometrically popular. This study extended previous research on popularity by examining children's perceptions of popularity. The study used open-ended questions instead of peer…

Results showed that third- through eighth-grade children's favored peer status was related to high levels of both interpersonal understanding and perceived social self-competence, with the relationship between peer acceptance and interpersonal understanding being stronger for older than for younger children. (Author/MP)

The process by which boys from different subcultures use racial and behavioral cues in establishing their preference for unfamiliar children was studied. Racial but not socioeconomic status differences in the use of behaviors as social cues was found. (Author/GK)

Reviews research pertaining to the feelings professionals and peers have about learning disabled children, and factors important for consideration when attempting to modify these perceptions. Discusses planning strategies, modifying peer interactions, and parent attitudes and training. (Author/RC)

Combined teacher ratings of perceived cognitive competence and misbehavior accounted for the most variance in peer acceptance or rejection of educable mentally handicapped children. Ratings of academic competence were associated with both acceptance and rejection of educationally handicapped children (a category of low achievers used in…

To investigate whether an experimental intervention would successfully improve the social position of rejected students, four students identified as the least accepted class members and four students with learning disabilities and/or educable mental handicaps were studied. (PHR)