Semi-structured interviews with 21 nonhandicapped high school students indicated that their experiences with peers with moderate to severe disabilities had resulted in such benefits as improved self-concept, increased tolerance of other people, reduced fear of human differences, and development of personal principles. Areas of difficulty were also…

Adolescents (n=173) rated the academic and social characteristics of a male peer who was videotaped as a highly competent student and as an average student. Students judged the competent target as likely to be more successful in academic subjects, more socially acceptable, and a better leader than the less competent peer. (Author/JDD)

A study involving 40 typical preschoolers and their mothers found they talked more about children with physical disabilities than those with Down syndrome during a storytelling task, and that children's comments about children with physical disabilities were positively related to teachers' ratings of children's interactions with classmates with…

Examined the effectiveness of the eight-week "Words Can Hurt You" anti-bias curriculum on kindergartners' gender stereotyping and perceived competency. Analysis of pretest/posttest scores in experimental and contrast groups indicated that the anti-bias curriculum increased androgynous responses on the Gender-Stereotyped Attitude Scale for Children…

A study that examined social outcomes of 59 elementary school students with learning disabilities, 72 low- to average-achieving students, and 54 high-achieving students, found that students in the consultation/collaborative-teaching setting demonstrated more positive outcomes than students in the co-teaching setting on friendship quality and peer…

The attitudes of 144 high school students toward individuals with mental retardation were examined using the Mental Retardation Attitude Inventory-Revised. Results indicated that gender and frequency of contact both influenced attitudes. Females and students with more frequent contacts with individuals with mental retardation indicated more…

A study examined the relationship between phonological awareness skills and social-emotional competence among 98 Israeli preschool children, 39 at risk for developing learning disabilities. Children at risk had lower phonological awareness measures, viewed themselves as more lonely, felt less confident, and were less accepted by peers. (Contains…

This article discusses the difficulties that preschool children with disabilities have in interacting with their peers and favorably reviews a workshop package designed for educational staff in early childhood settings. "PEER IN" describes intervention strategies to improve social interaction skills between children with disabilities and typically…

An expansion of the Social Coping Questionnaire was used to investigate how 229 gifted students (ages 11-17) coped with being identified as gifted. Results found five social coping factors: denial of giftedness, emphasis on popularity, peer acceptance, social interaction, and the hiding of giftedness. Females were more likely to deny abilities.…

Thirty students with learning disabilities (LD) in inclusive third-to fifth-grade classrooms and 60 educators were interviewed regarding social support at school. While students with LD felt part of a social network, many reported socially related loneliness. Results indicate a discrepancy between students' and teachers' choices of preferred…

Describes and reviews the work of researchers who have operationalized the construct of friendship and the theoretical basis for the association between friendship experiences and children's level of psychological adjustment. Details study of how various levels of friendship constructs relate to one another and to children's loneliness and…

Reviews research on friendships of delinquents and nondelinquents. Contrasting theories and research have pointed to both the distinctiveness of delinquent friendships and the commonality with normal friendships. Greater conflict, poorer attachment quality, lesser ability to repair relationships, cognitive distortions, and poorer social-cognitive…

A study examined classroom membership in an early childhood setting which included a 3-year-old boy with multiple disabilities. Interpersonal interactions with peers and practices that contributed to building community are discussed. Findings revealed that there were deliberate and ongoing efforts to create a strong sense of community within the…

A survey of five teachers of students with visual impairments and 10 students found that teachers spent 4 hour per week in preparing for these students, there was a significant use of transcribers to help prepare the student materials, and students felt reasonably satisfied with their high school experience. (Contains three references.) (CR)

Interviews and focus groups with five 9- and 10-year-old girls from rural Nova Scotia (Canada) clearly revealed the power and influence of the media in manipulating young girls' perceptions of themselves and others. Goffman's interactionist perspective of the "theatrical performance" provided a framework for the study. (Contains 47…