Investigated unmarried young adults' (N=283) contraceptive behaviors and attitudes. Results suggest that effective contraceptive behavior associated most strongly with respondents' perceiving relatively few barriers to their use of contraception, their maintenance of extensive interpersonal skills, and their regarding peer norms as consistent with…

Students in cooperative classrooms encourage their teammates to do well because they also benefit. (MLF)

Two experiments examined the effectiveness of a peer-monitored token system on reducing disruption and nonparticipation during a transition period of a kinderagarten class for behaviorally impaired children. Results suggested that both teacher-and peer-monitored interventions were successful in decreasing disruption and increasing participation of…

Twelve pairs of previously unacquainted 6-month-old infants were observed in the presence and absence of toys; interactive episodes beginning when an infant touched the peer or a toy held by the peer were examined. Results suggested that young peers influence each other's behavior, but the extent to which they do so depends on situational…

The results of the study described support the argument that compliance (agreement with ideas expressed by others) is not a general trait associated with the female sex role. Instead, compliant behavior is affected by the extent to which the topic is relevant to subjects. (Author/GC)

Discusses how new studies indicate that high achievers indeed influence their peers academically, but that it is not always clear how. (EV)

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are consistent situational factors associated with driving while intoxicated and riding with an impaired driver among youth, and to ascertain whether the situational factors vary as a function of demographic variables. Results indicate that the two situations are a function of the role of…

Study examined the prevalence of bullying in 375 American children, determined the relationship between peer bullying and sibling bullying, and examined the link between psychological difficulties and bullying. In general those who were both bullies and victims reported the highest level of psychological difficulty followed by victims, bullies,…

Undergraduate students (N=264) completed the Parent and Peer Influence Scale (PPI). The scale demonstrated strong reliability as well as face and concurrent validity. The PPI can be used both by researchers to address contradictions in the literature, as well as clinicians seeking to evaluate levels of peer influence in a family. (Author/MKA)

Analyzes which risk factors in the family, school, and peer domains have an effect on the use of different types of drugs and on frequencies of drug use. Results of a study with adolescents (N=467) show that parental monitoring, time spent with friends, and peer deviance were the most important risk factors. (Author/MKA)

This study examines the determinants of US students' choice of alternative programs of study in high school. An explicit theoretical framework grounded in optimizing behavior is derived. The empirical work is based on the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997. The set of variables include student and family characteristics, peer behavior, and…

It is common knowledge that many college students consume alcohol and/or binge drink. North Dakota colleges and universities are not immune to high levels of alcohol consumption, as they are among the leaders for binge drinking for people aged 18 to 25. Any number of reasons could explain this behavior, including new freedoms enjoyed by many 18 to…

"The Safe Space Kit" is designed to help educators create a safe space for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) students. One of the most effective ways for an educator to create a safe space is to be a supportive ally to LGBT students. The hard copy of "The Safe Space Kit" includes the "Guide to Being an Ally," ten "Safe Space" stickers…

This study explores the extent to which parental and peer behaviors and norms may affect substance use, personal antidrug norms, and intentions to use drugs in a group of Mexican heritage preadolescents in the Southwest United States, and whether these parental and peer influences differ according to gender. Secondary data from a randomized trial…