Summarizes the Konstanz Training Model (KTM), a German primary and secondary preventive program that increases teacher self-competence and social competence in dealing with aggressive and disruptive student behaviors. Emphasizes KTM's focus on systemic aspects, cognitive level, and behavioral level approaches. Describes KTM Compact, a short term…

Used NICHD Study of Early Child Care data to test paths from child care quality through process indicators to child outcomes. Found that maternal caregiving quality was strongest predictor of cognitive and social competence. Nonmaternal caregiving quality related to cognitive and social competence. Nonmaternal caregiving quality mediated…

This study examined the influence of expressive strategies, emotion type, social context, and gender on 144 elementary-school-age children's expectancies regarding interpersonal responses to their emotional expression. Findings indicated that children expected others to respond more positively to verbal and facial strategies than to aggressive…

A study examining principal termination surveyed 372 Missouri school superintendents, most from rural districts. The most frequent reason for principal termination was inability to communicate effectively and collaborate with school and community members. Most dismissals resulted from administrative recommendations, 28 percent resulted from board…

This article reviews research on peer-mediated social-skills training strategies used with children with autism, including arranging situations or contingencies to promote optimal peer effort, teaching methods to peers for reinforcing target skills in children with autism, teaching strategies to peers for initiating interactions, and teaching…

A comparison of 86 learning-disabled children, aged 7-11, and 86 age-matched controls found that subjects were able to generate fewer alternatives for solving social problems, showed less adaptive assertiveness and tolerance for frustration, exhibited more classroom behavior problems, displayed less personal and social competence, and had more…

Investigates the ability of 269 Canadian male and female undergraduates, with comparable fear of negative evaluation, to give and receive criticism. Using role playing, in vivo, and self-reported criticism behaviors, finds no significant differences across gender. Reports the hypothesis that women would devalue their criticism skills on…

Investigated the relative importance of multicultural counselors' experience or training in their choice of intercultural, interpersonal, or psychopathological attributions when interpreting 20 brief multicultural critical incidents. An inverse correlation was found between experience or training and emphasis on intercultural, as opposed to…

Examines group differences in second-language development from perspectives provided by literature on orality and literacy. Results show that university English-as-a-Second-Language students from traditional oral cultures tended to focus on interpersonal involvement in their speaking and writing, and use difficult structures more than students…

Reports results from secondary school students in North Carolina which point to need for drug prevention programs in elementary and middle schools. Describes Drug Action prevention program, model cooperative program between urban public school system and community-based program which uses cognitive-behavioral approach to prevent drug use.…

Four curricular formats were examined for teaching employment-related interpersonal skills to 122 secondary students with mild retardation. Compared were the instructional effects of teacher or videotape modeling, behavior rehearsal, and problem-solving. The combination of videotape modeling and problem-solving was most effective in student…

Three adolescents with developmental disabilities and severe behavior problems received eye-contact skill training using a contingency management approach in a community-based residential treatment center. The intervention produced significant increases in positive eye contact across two social settings. Staff reports of increased social…

The quantitative synthesis of 89 correlations from 16 studies of behavioral ratings and classroom observations suggested significant problems in the areas of the construct of behavioral disorder and criterion-related validity of widely used measures of social behavior. A "components of variance" model is proposed to aid in educational decision…

Children's behavior and sociometric status were rated in kindergarten and first grade. Mothers provided data on family ecology. Rejected children were more likely to come from low-SES families in which restrictive discipline was used, and were more aggressive and less academically skilled than accepted children. Children whose SES improved across…

Stresses the importance of communicating to parents how camping meets the developmental needs of youth through encouraging positive social interaction with adults and peers, providing a structured environment, promoting physical activity, encouraging creativity, empowering campers to achieve success, providing meaningful participation in the camp…