A peer nomination scale was designed to assess the degree to which children were subjected to direct physical and verbal abuse by peers. Subjects were 165 third through sixth grade students. Children's victimization scores were uncorrelated with their aggression scores, negatively correlated with peer acceptance, and positively correlated with…

Describes one teacher's attempt to use storybooks to help her students accept a special needs student in her classroom. Notes that some children's books, however, give the message that diversity makes children different and they must be treated differently. Suggests teachers carefully assess themes in children's literature, as well as their own…

Describes the attempts of 247 adolescents, classified into sociometric statuses of popular, neglected, rejected, controversial, and average, to handle stressful events by mobilizing social support. Results suggest that sociometric status does not prevent attempts to mobilize support, but status may affect the amount or type of support that helpers…

This study assessed the effects of special education placement from the perspectives of nine high school students receiving learning disabilities services in separate classrooms. Students did not view their experiences as either socially or academically efficacious, but they valued the services to avoid an unresponsive general education system and…

This survey of 125 parents and 95 teachers of typically developing children found that respondents perceived important benefits accruing to these children because of their involvement in preschool and kindergarten classes with students with disabilities. The specific nature of benefits centered on changes in social cognition, prosocial personal…

Second and third grade guests were observed while they tried to join peer hosts who were playing a game. Females guests were less obtrusive than male guests in their entries, and males guests were more assertive. Guests were less constrained when approaching same-sex than opposite-sex hosts. Female hosts were more attentive to guests than were…

Students in two desegregated urban high schools agreed on the definition of a good student but disagreed on the acceptability of the model for blacks. Six black high achievers, within these contrasting environments (middle-class versus working-class) show how they respond to the conflict of being black and a model student. (MMU)

A study identified the perceptions of six college students with visual impairments on what influenced their social activity on campus. It found influences were different for visually-impaired students than for traditional students. The need to intervene in the social development of students with visual impairments before college is stressed.…

This study examined educational achievement of 747 mainstreamed deaf 16-year olds in England using data on examination results, communication competence, social acceptance, and background factors. Predictors of examination success included family socioeconomic status, presence of any additional learning difficulty, whether English was used as a…

Self-reports of depression, anxiety, conduct problems, and somatization were collected from 449 elementary-school children in central Italy. Peers completed sociometric nominations for play partners. Socially rejected children rated themselves as having significantly more conduct problems than other social-status groups. Sociometrically neglected…

Examines the historical and conceptual foundations of friendship research. Areas addressed include functions of friendship, study of peer relations and peer systems, associated methodological and measurement challenges, and the study of friendship today. The discussion is framed around the "Harry Potter" (by J. K. Rowling) phenomena. (SD)

Compared impact of maternal influences and impact of peer influences on eating problems among Japanese adolescent girls. Found greater impact of peer interactions in grades 10 and 11, while maternal influence was stronger in grades 8 and 9. Measured participants' sensitivity to social evaluation and found no effects of grade in this area. (SD)

Studied influence of parental attitudes about childrearing on the development of 4-year-olds' perception of self-competence. Found parental attitudes of understanding and acceptance were significant predictors of peer acceptance and physical competence. Findings highlighted importance of parents' realistic understanding and expectations of…

A study examined 233 children's ratings of attitudes and behavioral interventions toward a peer with or without autism. Both third- and sixth-grade children showed less positive attitudes toward children with autism. Children showed no differences on behavioral intentions. Information about autism did not affect ratings. (Contains references.)…

This article presents a conceptual framework based on an intervention hierarchy to assist in deciding how to promote the peer interactions of young children with peer-related social competence difficulties in natural environments. It discusses making developmentally appropriate and inclusive early childhood programs the foundation for improved…