Examines the acquisition of new sound changes by 3- and 4-year-old children in asymmetrical child care situations. Results reveal that the children had acquired the changes and emphasize that the dialect transmission period begins before the age of maximal peer group influence. The findings support the possibility that child care asymmetry affects…

Compared the characteristics of friends, the environments of the friendship network, and the nature of peer relations of students (N=191) at-risk and not at risk of leaving high school. Results indicate that at risk students had more dropout friends, more working friends, fewer school friends, and fewer same-sex friends. (RJM)

Drawing on two studies, investigated how students' (N=471) school adjustment and sense of school membership related to future expectations. Results indicate that students' social acceptance and school experiences, especially with their peers, predicted future expectations, suggesting that students' individual experiences during school hours guide…

A study of 1,025 New Zealand children found that, although those exposed to childhood sexual abuse (CSA) were at increased risks of psychiatric disorder and adjustment difficulties, not all individuals exposed to CSA developed difficulties. The influence of the nature and quality of peer and family relationships is discussed. (Author/CR)

Reasons for the gender gap on mathematics achievement test scores among the gifted are discussed, including the influence of teachers and peers. Recommendations are offered for changing the classroom environment and for implementing interventions that would affect the external factors surrounding gifted girls. Possible future research areas are…

Surveyed rural French students age 13-18 years to investigate the extent to which measures of social control and learning/differential association theories could be generalized to, and help explain, delinquency. Social control measures either did not form reliable scales or were not significantly related to various offense scales. Measures of…

Assessed the extent of gang involvement among homeless and runaway youth, comparing gang members, gang-involved youth (not members), and non-gang youth on several dimensions. Interview data indicated that 15.4 percent of the youth were gang members and 32.2 percent were involved in gangs. These youth reported more family problems and school…

Explores 68 teachers' perceptions of student bullying behaviors within a revised framework of Richard Lazarus's stress and coping theory. About half of the teachers indicated they "always" tried to stop bullying. Only a small percentage of teachers said, however, they considered other teachers as "always" interested in trying to stop bullying.…

Students need to know the difference between snitching to get someone in trouble and disclosing disturbing information to save lives, prevent harm, or right a wrong. Elements in the school culture that would encourage students to confide in adults include trust, adults in close proximity, positive school climate, information hotlines, and…

Uses psychodynamic perspective to explore tendency of small groups to regress to group mindlessness, where critical thinking is sluggish and individual differences are suppressed. Discusses dynamics of small group mindlessness and the emergence of dissenter role. Suggests ways of enhancing group mindfulness. (Author/TE)

Examined the effects of group loyalty and distortion tendencies during a nominal grouping exercise involving 42 members of a management team in a decision-making seminar, divided into 5 groups to generate ideas on developing a program of flextime scheduling. Results showed distortion of judgment resulting from in-group loyalty in both…

Administered identical questionnaires to high school students (N=570) in 1963, 1976, and 1982. While educational, career, and financial concerns were more parent-oriented, almost all social activities were peer-oriented. Strength of the orientation fluctuated over the years with teenagers in 1963 showing lowest peer orientation and teenagers in…

Reports on classroom management in 15 Japanese first grade classes. Describes intensive training of children in procedural skills during the first month of school, peer pressure through class monitors and small groups to achieve management goals, and emphasis on children's socioemotional development as a target of pedagogy. 22 references. (SV)

Research with 38 undergraduates studied a technique for assessing conformity on a ratio scale and variables used to analyze normative and information factors. Computer presentation of the statistics and storage of responses allows assessment of discrepancies between actual line length and length of the reproductions made with/without peer…

Studied similarities and differences in views of 69 high school students and their parents regarding delinquency causation. Found beliefs of two groups to be similar; both groups regarded variety of causative factors to be relatively unimportant. Certain factors (parental indifference) were considered relatively important by parents; certain…