Two aspects of teacher education for cooperative learning are the content taught and the processes used to teach the content. Of the two, the processes used may have the most powerful influences on the desired outcomes. One important theory related to the processes of learning is social interdependence theory. It posits that there are three ways…

When students enter middle school, they face 2 major challenges, one involving the biological, cognitive, and socioemotional changes they are going through, and another involving the transition from elementary to middle school. Peer learning has considerable influence on how well they manage these challenges. The research that exists on peer…

In schools across the country, students routinely encounter a range of safety issues--from overt acts of violence and bullying to subtle intimidation and disrespect. Though extreme incidents such as school shootings tend to attract the most attention, day-to-day incidents such as gossip, hallway fights, and yelling matches between teachers and…

Modern cooperative learning began in the mid- 1960s (D. W. Johnson & R. Johnson, 1999a). Its use, however, was resisted by advocates of social Darwinism (who believed that students must be taught to survive in a "dog-eat-dog" world) and individualism (who believed in the myth of the "rugged individualist"). Despite the resistance, cooperative…

The results of this experiment demonstrate a causal relationship (a) between the expressed accuracy of understanding and the proposal of compromises and the induction of cooperation in a negotiation situation and (b) between the expressed warmth and degree of favorableness of interpersonal attitudes, thus giving support to the efficacy of Rogerian…

Effects of cooperative and individualistic instruction on interpersonal attraction between handicapped and nonhandicapped students were compared. Results indicated cooperative learning experiences promote more cross-handicapped interaction during instruction, more cross-handicap friendships, and more cross-handicap interaction during…

In making the transition between the research and theory on goal structures and the literature on open education, five of the more pervasive themes of open education were discussed. (Author/RK)

There is no aspect of human experience or human socialization more important than cooperation with others. The person's ability to engage in sustained cooperative endeavors depends upon a series of competencies. Successful cooperation depends upon the person having an integrated and coherent identity, directionality, a clear preception of…

This study examines the effectiveness of a cooperatively oriented negotiator who is highly skilled in role reversal in inducing cooperation in an adversary. Agreements were greater and faster in individualistic conditions than in competitive conditions. (Author/DB)

A strategy for preventing drug abuse by children and adolescents is socializing them into social competencies necessary for psychological health and responsible decision making. This is achieved through direct learning, identification based on admiration for superior competence, and adoption of social roles within meaningful relationships with…

Summary findings from a meta-analysis of 133 research studies of adults comparing the relative effectiveness of cooperative, competitive, and individualistic efforts show that cooperation among adults promotes achievement, positive interpersonal relationships, social support, and self-esteem. (MLF)

The paper considers the efficacy of role reversal, used in conflict situations, for reducing distortions in perceptions of the opponent's position, for increasing understanding of the opponent's position, for clarifying communication during negotiations, and for inducing cooperative behavior in conflict situations. It was noted that little…

One of the basic purposes of counseling is to help clients achieve some kind of behavioral and cognitive change that increases their competence in managing interpersonal relationships. The advantages and procedures for increasing clients' interpersonal skills within the context of a counseling group are discussed in this article. (Author)

Examined the effectiveness of peer medication in an inner city elementary school. Trained students mediated 206 conflicts, most of which were relationship problems involving physical and verbal aggression. Before mediation, students' conflict strategies included physical force and verbal intimidation. Mediation most commonly resulted in an…

Undergraduates discussed a moral issue with a confederate who had the same opinion (no controversy) or opposite opinion (controversy) within either a cooperative or a competitive context. Subjects in the controversy conditions indicated more conceptual conflict, engaged in more information seeking, and were more accurate in taking the cognitive…