Compared attitudes and cognitive dispositions of three eighth-grade classes toward two methods of instruction (traditional and generative). Students' attitude ratings revealed that traditional method was rated much higher than generative. Students appeared to prefer traditional method's structured, teacher-centered, highly controlled atmosphere.…

Examined whether 1,153 adolescents' best same-sex and best opposite-sex friends' sexual intercourse behavior increases the likelihood that respondents who are virgins will have intercourse within two years. Results showed white females are most influenced by the sexual behavior of their best female and best male friend. (BH)

Provides some initial normative and validity data on the Social Avoidance and Distress (SAD) and the Fear of Negative Evaluation (FNE) scales for junior high school students (N=406). Findings indicated the level of social-evaluative anxiety does not significantly vary during the junior high school years or between sexes. (JAC)

Examined male (N=58) and female (N=66) junior high school students to determine their preference for sex of counselor under personal/social and educational hypothetical counseling situations. Found girls demonstrated definite same-sex preference for both counseling situations; boys preferred male counselors for personal/social counseling and…

Administered Arnott's Autonomy for Women Inventory to determine the attitudes toward women of 445 junior high school girls. The girls were found to hold a moderate view toward women's rights and roles. Significant differences in attitudes were found according to critical family-related variables. Rural girls tended to be more conservative.…

Evaluated the effectiveness of rational-emotive therapy and rational-emotive imagery in 59 junior high school students assigned to rational-emotive therapy without imagery (RET), rational-emotive therapy with imagery (REI), relationship-oriented counseling (ROC), and control (WLC) groups. The RET and REI groups were rated on sociometric measures…

Examined the relationship between popularity and sexual behavior in 1,405 junior high school students. Results showed White males and females with more female friends are more likely to be sexually experienced. There was little relationship between popularity and sexuality in Black adolescents. (JAC)

Surveyed seventh grade students and teachers from 23 schools to determine association between teacher attitudes, behavioral intentions, and smoking behavior and prevalence of student smoking. Teacher attitudes toward smoking policies were strongly related to current smoking behavior of teacher but not consistently related to student smoking.…

Assessed 237 seventh and eighth graders for drug/alcohol use, extracurricular activities, peer influence, and personal attitudes. Substance abusers reported little involvement in extracurricular activities, spent more time with friends than with family, and identified friends as using drugs and alcohol. Nonabusing adolescents tended to be highly…

Administered a sex-role questionnaire to determine the sex-role stereotypes of 200 male and female junior high school age adolescents. Also studied their views concerning the social desirability of feminine and masculine traits. Results found positive nonstereotyped traits were rated as relatively feminine, and negative nonstereotyped traits as…

Demonstrated adequate reliability (internal consistency, alternate form) and validity (concurrent, convergent, and discriminant) of state version of Set 1 and Set 2 of Depression Adjective Checklists with two adolescent samples (total n=602). Lists were shown to be sufficiently sensitive for use in measuring short-term mood. Grade and sex effects…

Assesses the effectiveness of a reading project for seventh graders that taught caring for others. Results, based on 57 students, show that the experimental group became more committed to caring in two out of three cases. Findings indicate moderate support for the use of a literature-based approach to teaching values. (RJM)

Examined health concerns of 278 urban junior high school students. Highest levels of concerns pertained to dental health, friendships, nutrition, and sex; lowest levels pertained to smoking, birth control, pregnancy, and homosexuality. Younger, female, and less healthy students expressed greater health concerns. (Author/NB)

Analyzed smoking intentions and peer group influences among 1,689 eighth grade students to ascertain possible gender-specific correlates in adolescent smoking intentions. Peer environment was found to be crucial factor in adolescent smoking behavior. Particularly striking for adolescent girls was firmness of their expressed intentions to continue…

Examined the types of discipline enforcement measures employed in the Israeli elementary and junior high schools, and their fairness as viewed by students (N=357). Found that junior high school teachers relied more on problem-centered, and elementary school teachers relied more on relationship-centered techniques of discipline enforcement. Most…