Ratings by 23 parents and 21 regular education teachers of 20 elementary-aged students with blindness on the Social Skills Rating Scale (SSRS) were compared to ratings for the SSRS sighted-norm group. Although no significant differences were found for overall ratings, students with blindness were rated as less academically competent and higher on…

A study involving five elementary-age children with moderate disabilities and five typical peers evaluated the use of a structural analysis model as a vehicle for improving social interactions via peer-mediated interventions. Results indicate structural analysis was usable as a prescriptive tool to develop effective peer-mediated interventions.…

Analyzes the generalization failures of social-skills instruction, outlines some critical differences between instruction in social- and academic-skills areas, and suggests the depth of analysis, instruction, and facilitation that will be required to achieve generalization of social skills. The modification of environments to support behavior is…

This study investigated the communicative behavior of four adolescents who had been implanted with the Nucleus 22-Channel cochlear implant as adolescents. In videotaped conversations, participants showed development in the proportion of questions resolved, domination of talk time, responses to queries by the conversation partner, and strategies…

Studies of friendships in children with developmental disabilities have evolved primarily from the research on children with typical development. Children with developmental disabilities, however, present unique issues that warrant consideration such as measurement issues, developmental level, the etiology or type of disability, the experience and…

This article identifies ways in which cultural discontinuities naturally occur in the schools for students from culturally diverse backgrounds and ways in which school personnel can bring about more satisfactory adjustments by directly teaching requisite skills. Recommendations include creating positive affirming environments and teaching…

The relationship of parent and teacher ratings of social skills and problem behaviors, using the Social Skills Rating System with two peer-reference measures, were examined with 101 fifth- and sixth-graders. Teacher ratings of social skills, problem behaviors, and academic competence showed moderate correlations with both peer measures. (Contains…

A study compared the effectiveness of video modeling with in vivo modeling for teaching developmental skills to five children (ages 7-11) with autism. Targeted skills included social skills and daily living skills. Video modeling led to faster acquisition of tasks than in vivo modeling and was effective in promoting generalization. (Author/CR)

This pilot study examined the playground social behaviors of eight children (ages 6-10) with language impairments (LI) and their typical peers. Analysis of videotape recordings found LI children spent significantly less time interacting with peers and demonstrated significantly more withdrawn behaviors than did their peers, with group membership…

This article discusses the social interaction deficits of persons with Asperger Syndrome and describes a social behavioral learning strategy, SODA (Stop, Observe, Deliberate, and Act), that will enhance the social interaction skills of persons with Asperger Syndrome. It explains the components of SODA and provides a set of teaching guidelines.…

Used NICHD Early Child Care data to examine effects of attentional persistence on relationship of infant negative emotionality to age 3 outcomes. Found that high negative emotionality related to low social competence only when attentional persistence was poor. Found no moderating effects of attentional persistence for behavior problems. High…

Discuses fear of failure (FF) in sports and physical education, reviewing literature on FF, recommending a multidimensional model of FF appraisals, examining research on the development of FF, and emphasizing three interpersonal paths of influence: family structure and climate, parental demands for independence and mastery, and parent-child…

Discusses the use of role-play for the development of interpersonal skills and evaluates a computer-based learning environment for initial training in dealing with social-communicative problems. Discusses high cognitive load, explains the use of a conversational model, describes the results of two experiments with university students, and suggests…

This study examined the impact of play activities, teachers' predictions of children's sociability, and intervention fidelity variables on levels of interaction between three preschoolers with autism and their nondisabled peers. Results indicated that social reciprocity and peer effort correlated highly with children's levels of social…

The Social Relations Model is applied to the evaluation of how 34 secondary school students with learning disabilities (LD) rated their own and peers' social skills and behavioral self-control. Subjects viewed themselves individually as less skilled than they viewed their LD peers as a group, contrary to data from typical children and adults.…