In this review, little support is found for Piaget's claim that with increasing peer group interaction adult authority becomes less legitimate to the child. It is suggested that the adult exerts increasing influence with age on children's moral judgment and, therefore, emphasis on peer-centered moral education may be misdirected. (Author/SJL)

The influence of peer models' food selections and eating behaviors on preschoolers' food preferences was investigated. Thirty-nine preschool children's preferences for vegetables were assessed. (Author/MP)

Suggests that (1) parents and peers influence adolescents through the expression of normative standards or the modeling of behaviors; (2) adolescents respond to such pressure directly or by internalizing norms or preferences for conduct; and (3) pressures, norms, and preferences have different effects on adolescent behavior, depending on the topic…

Factors influencing a teenager's decision to smoke or not to smoke are discussed. Differences between smoking and nonsmoking students and their parents' attitudes about smoking are examined. (JD)

Negative reinforcement drinkers scored significantly and consistently higher on all alcohol consumption indices, and data from an alcoholic sample showed that 93 percent of the alcoholics would be classified as escape drinkers. (Author)

Diabetes and sickle cell anemia (SCA) are two health-related characteristics that distinguish young people from their peers. This article outlines the problems of children with diabetes and SCA and presents the goals and format for group counseling of these populations and their parents. (Author/BEF)

Because learning disabled (LD) children are often the targets of negative behavior and social rejection by peers, the article reviews the literature on the social interactions typical of LD children and on peer-mediated strategies for enhancing LD children's social standing and examines the critical role of the classroom teacher in altering the…

This article reports the relationship between children's social desirability response tendencies and their withdrawal from classroom achievement situations by investigating the effects of the child's expectations of peer response. (JMF)

Adolescents (n=353, 55% female) described their use of product levels and exposure to marketplace-related communication. Females used labels more and had greater exposure to communication, which influenced label use. Parents and peers were important sources of consumer learning. (SK)

Evaluated the usefulness of peer interaction on the development of professional knowledge among prospective secondary mathematics teachers. Data gathered from following two students involved in a teamed, field-based practicum over 11 weeks indicated that peer collaboration and collaborative reflection helped facilitate teacher development. Peers…

Reports a study that examined social factors which might predict adolescent smoking transition from nonsmoking or experimental to more advanced stages. Data from teens who participated in the Teenage Attitudes and Practices Survey indicated that best friends' smoking status was the only factor that consistently predicted adolescent smoking…

Discusses quantitative and qualitative approaches in research on peer effects on student attainment, using two texts to argue that the definition of "effect" cannot be restricted to "statistical effect," and that institutional properties are not the sum of individual properties. Asserts that quantitative investigators have…

Examines the importance of peer influence and personal attitudes in relation to self-reported use of alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana for 213 younger adolescents and 219 older adolescents. Friends' use was significantly related to substance use for both age groups, both sexes, and all substances examined. Resistance self- efficacy was…

Examined how peers and international student recruitment agencies (agents) influence Thai students' choices of international education and to what degree. Found that agents exert a stronger influence than peers, and that Thai students from different levels of education perceived the influence of peers and agents in a different way. (EV)