This study investigated whether the process of representational change undergoes developmental change or different processes occupy different niches in the course of knowledge acquisition. Subjects--college, third-, and sixth-grade students--solved gear system problems over two sessions. Findings indicated that for all grades, discovery of the…

This study examined the adult body shape preferences of 6- and 10-year-olds from the United States, Mainland China, and Turkey. Findings indicated that even the youngest children preferred thin, male and female figures and least preferred the very obese figures. Heavier female figures were chosen by Turkish children more than by other children.…

Two studies examined children's perceptions of popular and unpopular peers. Findings indicated that fourth- through eighth-graders viewed "liked others" as prosocial and "disliked others" as antisocial, but associated perceived popularity with both prosocial and antisocial behavior. Children described popular peers as…

Two experiments examined effects of a cognitive interview on 4- and 8-year-olds' correct recall and subsequent reporting of misinformation. Found that a cognitive interview elicited more correct details than a control interview. Eight-year-olds' reports were more complete than 4-year-olds', with more correct person, action, object, and location…

Investigated the relationship of student exposure to selected developmental assets with indicators of thriving, using more reliable measures than previously reported. Data collected using the Youth Supplement Survey among diverse 6th-12th graders indicated that most students experienced only 3 of 12 assets. The more assets students reported, the…

Examined developmental changes and within-family consistency in parent-child interactions for mothers and fathers of 98 school-age children (ages 6-18) with mental retardation. Both positive and negative exchanges decreased longitudinally with age. Results showed fewer parent commands, less child noncompliance, fewer child negatives, and less…

A study of 122,824 students in grades 6, 9, and 12 found that physical and sexual abuse were associated with an increased likelihood of the use of alcohol, marijuana, and almost all other drugs. Use of multiple substances was highly elevated among abuse victims, and they reported initiating substance abuse earlier. (Author/CR)

A study that compared the receptive and expressive prosodic abilities of 30 Dutch children (ages 4-6) with language impairments to the abilities of typical children, found they performed less accurately on a prosodic imitation task but did not differ on an emotion identification task. Children performed better with increasing age. (Author/CR)

Discusses the use of e-mail by humanities faculty based on an e-mail survey of faculty at Brigham Young University (Utah) and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Results indicate that humanities faculty are significantly heavier e-mail users than previously reported. (LRW)

Studied preschoolers' and first through third graders' judgments about forgetting. Found that children believed central events of a story would be retained better than peripheral details; preschoolers and first graders believed memory was invulnerable to suggestion; and older children believed suggestibility and interference were less likely over…

Followed 150 children over four years who were classified according to cluster analysis of teacher ratings into four types of social withdrawal: unsociable, passive-anxious, active-isolate, and sad-depressed. Found that unsociable children had elevated sociometric neglect rates, active-isolates had higher levels of rejection, and sad-depressed had…

Two studies examined children's and adolescents' attitudes toward aggression. Found that boys viewed physical aggression as more hurtful than social aggression and girls rated social aggression as more hurtful. Girls rated an aggressor as more angry than did boys. Middle and high school participants viewed social aggression as indicating more…

Provides an overview of ethical issues related to social research with children. Sets discussion in context of current debates in Britain and explores extent to which children should be regarded as similar to or different from adults, particularly children's supposed position as vulnerable, incompetent, and relatively powerless in society. Offers…

Identifies techniques to help siblings develop mutual caring and lifelong bonds. Suggests parents consider the challenges of a new child, a child's perspective about a new sibling, timing of birth announcements and adjustment, the unique character of each child, children's age differences, and the gift of having siblings. (DLH)

Presents a study in which British students in Year 7 through Year 10 (n=170) completed a questionnaire that focused on their involvement in different types of bullying, what behaviors were regarded as bullying, and their attitudes towards bullying, bullies, and victims. Includes references. (CMK)