Investigated stressors and symptoms in 60 students. In order of frequency, elementary students cited family problems, feeling different, and school problems; junior high school students cited general adolescent problems, peer pressure, and family problems; and high school students cited the future, school problems, and peer pressure. Students…

Examines classroom research related to child-to-child interaction and its relationship to the development of social competence in young children. Discusses and summarizes relevant qualitative and quantitative research. Defines social competence and suggests implications of the research for classroom teachers. (Author/RWB)

Identifies four conditions which cause merit pay systems to fail to increase teacher performance: lack of skills, the poor timing of rewards, an inability to measure performance; and competing reinforcers. Explains why organizational culture is a more effective mediator of rewards. (SD)

Describes a study of 36 college juniors at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis to contrast how well students learn new concepts from working with a partner versus working individually on a computer-based lesson. Highlights include types of feedback chosen and an analysis of verbal interactions. (Author/LRW)

Found that the strength of the relationship between peer and individual attitude toward science increases significantly from grades 6-8 (peaking in grade 9) and that the relationship increases during the school year such that, by the end of the year, there are no differences between grades. Implications for science instruction are noted. (JN)

Although cooperative learning evidences the greatest potential for engendering student learning, it is used no more than 20 percent of the time in most classrooms. This article reviews research on cooperative, competitive, and individualistic structures used by teachers and discusses the implications for changing teacher preparation practices. (MT)

Evaluated the effect of monetary incentives on cigarette smoking in 120 college students. Results indicated that monetary incentive was generally effective in reducing smoking. Incentives offered to a group (sorority and fraternity) were more effective among females, while individual incentives were more effective with men. (JAC)

Reasons children underachieve in school are examined: emotional problems, secondary gains, teacher troubles, peer pressure, boredom, fear of trying, and fear of growing up. Guidelines for parents are offered concerning involvement with homework, holding children back, rewards versus bribes, activities that boost self-esteem, and parent…

Followed 1,130 low peer choice children through record sources into young adulthood. Examination of specific childhood problem behavior clusters revealed that childhood aggression, in context of peer rejection, was related significantly to delinquency for males, antisocial diagnosis for both sexes, and differentiated those in the judicial and…

This paper uses longitudinal data and multiple regression of follow-up data to identify direction of causality among adolescent alcohol use, normative structure toward alcohol, and peer alcohol use. Data were collected on a random sample of 100 adolescents. Separate regressions were performed on male and female respondents. (Author/LMO)

Focusing on findings on changes in high school culture derived from a longitudinal study, the author examines two aspects of the study. First, an overview of the significant factors influencing the lives of high school students is reviewed. Second, trends in students' major values are described. (MD)

Surveyed 4,859 rural adolescents to examine the relationship of peer group influence and psychosocial identification with frequency of drug use. Results strongly supported the importance of peer influence and role models in predicting illegal drug use. (JAC)

Discusses the benefits to be derived from full collaboration in the writing process. Suggests that students learn from sharing their abilities and difficulties and gain emotional and technical support from working with their peers. This is particularly helpful for those students who lack confidence in their writing. (RBW)

A review of the essentials of ability formation theory is followed by a review of recent research relevant to the question of how students develop conceptions of their abilities. The ways in which ability formation theory may be refined on the basis of recent findings regarding classroom process are discussed. (PN)

This article presents results from a study that described variables relative to the risk factors of secondary school students' smoking and being overweight. Implications for future risk reduction programs that are targeted for smoking and weight problem behaviors are given. (Author/DF)