This study assessed 113 children in eight Head Start classrooms using both sociometric measures of acceptance and rejection and observational measures of behavior when alone, when interacting with peers, and when interacting with the teacher. Results suggested that these two measures of social isolation do not tap the same dimension. (Author/JMB)

Results of using the "Peer Attitudes toward the Handicapped Scale" with Australian intermediate grade children (N=368) indicated its suitability in its present form (including U.S. norms) for sixth grade students, though it is suggested separate norms need to be developed for other grade levels. (Author/DB)

The community of Austin, Texas has several programs for after school day care for students with disabilities, including: Extend-A-Care, where nondisabled peers participate in play and care activities with disabled children; summer camps for autistic children sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department; and summer camps operated by the Easter…

A school-based short-term intervention used successfully with impulsive, aggressive, shy, oversensitive, attention-disordered, and language- and learning-disabled elementary school students features exercises and activities such as generating ideas, rehearsing behaviors, and adapting behaviors to help students learn to "enter" play groups and join…

Sociometric ratings assigned by and to partially mainstreamed behavior disordered and regular class elementary students were compared. Among results were that behavior disordered subjects, in comparison to matched nonhandicapped peers, assigned higher social rejection to their peers and received far less acceptance and more rejection from them.…

Identifies four conditions which cause merit pay systems to fail to increase teacher performance: lack of skills, the poor timing of rewards, an inability to measure performance; and competing reinforcers. Explains why organizational culture is a more effective mediator of rewards. (SD)

Examined dimensions of social competence by several measures of adaptive behavior, social skills, and peer acceptance among 452 elementary school students. Found method of measurement to be most important factor in assessment of social competence. Considers interacting influences of method, setting, and content on assessment of social competence.…

Describes two versions of a new pictorial scale of perceived competence and social acceptance, a downward extension of the Perceived Competence Scale for Children. Both versions, one for preschoolers/kindergarteners and one for first/second graders, tap four domains: cognitive competence, physical competence, peer acceptance, and maternal…

Examines the hypothesis that biases in peer interpretations of social behavior may contribute to the stability of social acceptance and rejection in children. (HOD)

Discusses patterns of social interaction used by 28 preschool children who were popular, controversial, neglected, or rejected as playmates. Videotaped social play in which one child joined a dyad was coded in terms of children's direction of communication, inititiations, and responses. (CB)

Examined the performance of 30 learning disabled and 30 nondisabled children in grades one through seven on the Test of Social Inference (TSI). Results indicated that disabled students obtained lower TSI total scores than did nondisabled students; they also performed relatively lower on TSI items requiring more verbal expression. (NRB)

Examined development of relations between causal explanations, the anticipated emotional consequences for others if these causes were communicated, and the decision to disclose or withhold causal explanation. Within a role-playing paradigm, children aged 5-12 were given scenarios involving social rejection or broken social engagement. Data…

Nonretarded fourth through sixth-graders (N=91) viewed a videotape of either a nonretarded, mildly retarded, or moderately retarded target child reading. They then were read a story depicting the target as either socially competent, withdrawn, or aggressive. Prosocial behavior attributes had a positive effect on children's attitudes and behavioral…

This article reports on a study of emotionally disabled children who have difficulty in adapting to their peers and their school environment, suggesting possible means by which they can be better understood and helped by their teachers. (JD)

This research project investigated the effects of computer-assisted cooperative learning in mathematics instruction within integrated classrooms for 118 third-graders (25 with learning disabilities) and 92 fourth-graders (16 with learning disabilities). Students were grouped into cooperative learning, whole-class, or individual learning situations…