The study compared the effectiveness of a peer model and an adult model in teaching an expressive language task to four autistic boys (ages 7-10). Results indicated that all children learned from both models and few consistent differences occurred across the two conditions. Generalization and maintenance was also consistently high in both…

An interdependent group-managed response-cost system mediated by free tokens was employed to decrease inappropriate verbalizations of two groups of elementary-level learning disabled children (N=9). Results indicated that this contingency system was a viable and effective method of decreasing inappropriate behavior. Peer pressure was credited for…

Youth gangs can be found throughout all racial, ethnic, and religious groups. Characteristics of gang membership and suggestions for parent and school involvement in preventing gangs are discussed. (DF)

Cummings (1979), citing evidence from the National Institute of Drug Abuse, reports that one of every eleven adult Americans suffers from a severe addictive problem. Drug addiction is epidemic among teenagers; one of every six teenagers suffers from a severe addictive problem. This paper focuses on adolescent drug/substance abuse. (Author)

Describes two reinforcement techniques designed to ensure transfer of learning from management training courses to the workplace: (1) participant journal writing to capture management insights occurring during training and (2) support groups providing encouragement, feedback, and accountability. Results of an evaluation of the techniques'…

Reports on a survey of 42 nurse leaders, which is compared to a 1977 survey that used the same questionnaire with 71 nurse leaders. Results report the current trends in occupational positions, location, habits, travel, career emphasis, mentor activity, sources of influence, publishing, activism, and research. (CH)

Comments on the difficulty of writing novels for adolescents and the writer's efforts to encourage adolescents not to conform, to be responsible for themselves and their friends, and to communicate with adults. (SRT)

Investigates the cumulative effect of repeated exposure of schoolchildren to antisocial models. Research results highlight the need to minimize models of misbehavior in the classroom and for teachers to manage the class in order to produce maximum exposure to good behavior models. (Author/CT)

Reports on the development of two forced-choice, self-report scales for adolescents: Pseudoautonomy and Peer-Group Dependence. Results indicated both scales were significant predictors of group membership (hospitalized or nonhospitalized); the overall classification attempt was correct 73 percent of the time; and the correlation between the scales…

Data were collected from high school students to observe peers' perceptions of two fictional adolescent females--one a smoker, the other a nonsmoker. Findings suggest that peers perceived the personality traits of the smoker more negatively than the nonsmoking counterpart. Recommendations are made for health educators. (Author/DF)

Examined adolescent use of popular music, identifying types of music preferences. Concluded that a relationship exists between amount of peer orientation and type of music preferences and that the motivations for listening were more physical and emotional than cerebral (that is, listening to lyrics). (PD)

Describes a successful drug and alcohol prevention program developed at Forest Hills School District (Ohio). The program uses athletic coaches to recruit student athletes to support the antidrug program and to bring peer pressure to bear in discouraging drug and alcohol use by their teammates and other students. (MD)

Smoking cessation behaviors of college students using a university health service were examined. Forty successful and 32 unsuccessful quitters were interviewed through an open-ended questionnaire. Differences in success seemed related to techniques used to remain abstinent from cigarette smoking, expectations of ease or difficulty in quitting, and…

Writing skills can be reinforced when students work together to create a classroom novel. Examples of how a language arts class developed a character by brainstorming, then wrote and revised their story to be shared with others, are given. (DF)

Scapegoating in the classroom is a destructive problem that disrupts the social life of the class. Suggestions are offered in the form of a fable to help both the outcast and those who victimize. (DF)