Implications of social psychological theory and research, particularly in the area of social influence, are examined to provide a theoretical foundation for cross-age tutoring programs. Areas discussed include the effectiveness of various bases of social influence and the effects of tutoring programs on students, tutors, and teachers. (Author/SJL)

Outlines four major characteristics of adolescent social-cognitive development. Discusses their affect on the adolescent's ability to understand communication concepts and to deal with the classroom audience and particular types of topics, assignments, or exercises. Draws implications for secondary speech curriculum. (JMF)

Examined effects of peer victimization and whether it was a precursor of school maladjustment. Subjects were 200 5- and 6-year-olds. Findings indicated that victimization was a precursor of children's loneliness and school avoidance. Children's feelings of loneliness were more pronounced while victimization was occurring, and delayed effects were…

Tested the psychometric properties of an instrument used to assess adolescents' empowerment concerning alcohol. Empowerment was significantly and inversely associated with alcohol use after controlling for peer influence and self-efficacy. Suggests that psychological empowerment is theoretically meaningful and is significantly associated with…

Examined the role of same-sex peer interactions in influencing early school competence and the degree to which effortful control (EC) moderated these relations. Results indicated that EC, measured at the end of the Fall semester, moderated the relations of children's same-sex play to their school competence, measured at the end of the following…

Investigated factors influencing substance abuse among sixth- and seventh-graders from an affluent suburban community. Found high rates of depressive symptoms among older girls, links between internalizing symptoms and substance abuse, and peer approval of substance use among older boys. Distress was linked to achievement pressures and isolation…

Explores first-, fourth-, and seventh-grade children's expectation of responses from parents and peers for accepting or refusing a drink. Children in all three grades expected negative reactions from parents. More fourth- and seventh-, than first-graders, expected positive peer reactions to drinking and anticipated strongly negative peer reactions…

A study examined the social pretend play and conversational behaviors of three children (ages 4-6) with language impairment in dyadic interactions with peers. In all dyads, social pretend play yielded greater conversational success than other forms of play. Quality of play varied as a function of partner characteristics. (Contains references.)…

Reanalyzed data by Oetting and Beauvais which evaluated peer drug association effects on adolescent drug use in survey of 415 high school students. Found support for alternative model in which poorer school adjustment was consequence of drug use, peer drug associations, lack of family sanctions against drug use, low religious identification, and…

Examined impact of psychosocial variables on drinking among 505 Black college students. Lack of social support was best predictor of drinking of hard alcoholic beverages among Black college males. Respondents who began drinking at younger age, had parents who approved of drinking, and had friends who drank were more likely to drink light and hard…

Investigated how teachers coached one another accepted advice and feedback from colleagues and changes that occurred in classroom practices. Describes and presents data for a peer coaching program. (YP)

When successful teachers were interviewed concerning strategies for helping students believe in themselves, they suggested that teachers break through minority students' skepticism and distrust, use peer recruiters, welcome everyone, generate class participation, set high expectations, use attention-getting projects, look beyond the classroom, and…

Compared 7th and 10th graders participating in social resistance or attitudinal alcohol prevention programs to controls. For 10th-graders, no outcome difference between interventions was found; at one-year follow-up, intervention subjects used less alcohol than controls. Seventh graders showed no usage effects of interventions two years…

Describes assertiveness training program initiated specifically for sophomores at an independent high school. Includes an overview of the program and descriptions of six sessions and a follow-up session. Discusses suggestions for implementation. (NB)

This article examines peer intervention as a strategy for modifying disruptive behavior in inclusive classrooms, focusing on the method known as peer confrontation. A vignette of this method's application to reduce the incidence of verbal abuse in a regular classroom is provided, and implications of peer mediation for inclusive schooling are…