Firstborn children's reaction to sibling birth assessed in 41 families via family interviews at 1 month prepartum and 1, 4, 8, and 12 months postpartum. Familial interaction patterns were observed in semistructured play sessions. Time since the birth of the sibling and sibling gender had significant effects on firstborn children's adjustment.…

This paper reports on a study of a group of university women working in science at an academic institution. The group included professors, graduate students, researchers, post-doctoral students, and science educators. Data were collected in the form of interviews, field notes taken during participant observation, and analysis of group materials…

Examined differences in observers' influence on parents during naturalistic home observations of families. Parents' oldest child was 6-7 years old. Results suggested that observers influenced fathers more than mothers. Apparent differences in influence were related to the child's sex. (LB)

Examines whether a shift in secondary school students' constructions of gender, school subjects, and subject ability has occurred. Explores their statements concerning gender and ability involved in school subjects. Argues there has been a blurring of the gender dichotomy when reviewing favorite subjects versus least favorite subjects. (CMK)

In this experimental study various strategies were developed and empirically tested for physics instruction designed to improve girls' and boys' attitudes toward and achievements in physics. Strategies included opportunities to integrate different pre-existing knowledge, variation of teaching methods to enhance cooperation and communication in the…

The purposes of this longitudinal study were: (1) to see whether it was possible to discern direct or indirect effects of mothers' and fathers' functioning on their 2-year-olds' cognitive, social, and psychomotor adaptations, and (2) to examine separately the relationships between parent functioning and the adaptations of first and later born…

To test the feasibility of using case study techniques in national evaluations, the case study approach was used to study the experiences of a boy and a girl in each of eight Head Start curricular models and two children in a classroom not under the sponsorship of a program developer. Teachers and mothers were also interviewed. The purpose of the…

This study examined same-sex and cross-sex help exchanges in reading and math classes among third and fifth-grade students. Students sought help more frequently from same sex. Girls, more than boys, reported liking their boy helpers as much as their same-sex helpers. (Author/JAZ)

Examined qualitative characteristics of teacher-child interaction and how they are related to preschoolers' perceptions of self and peers. Found that girls spent more time interacting with teachers than boys, and had more cooperative and positive interactions with teachers than did boys. Found that the quality of teacher-child interaction was…

This study examines the influence of maternal predispositions toward sex-appropriate behavior and the mother's response to "feminine" or "masculine" cues in infant behavior. In the investigation, one 6-month-old male infant was presented to 11 mothers who served as subjects. The infant was dressed as either boy (blue clothes) and named Adam, or…

Examines the importance of goals and style in female competition. Describes an ethnographic study of 27 girls and 12 boys playing a ball game at a Quaker school. Finds that the girls used stereotypically feminine rhetoric to support aggressive competition. (FMW)

A male bias in United States society persists in that power, competitiveness, and rational planning are rewarded while nurturing, cooperation, and intimacy are devalued. This pattern of societal "reinforcement" severely penalizes women. Social learning in childhood, particularly in games, much like on-the-job training in adulthood, has important…

Results from the first year of a three-year longitudinal study (grades 6-8) of sex-related differences are reported. The purposes of the study are: (1) to understand more adequately the impact of one important cognitive influence (Spatial Visualization) on the learning of mathematics, and (2) to identify educational influences on the development…

This study demonstrated the effectiveness of a reliable, inexpensive method for observing fathers interacting with their preschool children in the home. Fathers in 180 white families were interviewed about their child rearing attitudes and practices, and observed while playing games with their four-year old children. When a factor analysis of the…

A participant observation study was conducted to address socialization, cultural, and values questions related to high school students' interactions with microcomputers. Specific issues addressed included: (1) student social patterns in microcomputer interactions; (2) cultural and sex differences in microcomputer interactions; and (3) student…