The Taxonomy of Problematic Social Situations for Children (TOPS) was completed for 30 fifth-grade children on 2 occasions 8 weeks apart. The TOPS total and factor scores were found to be highly temporally stable and convergent with peer evaluations administered concurrently, with the exception of peer "like most" nominations.…

Examined 28 preschoolers' affective and behavioral responses to 3 potentially problematic peer situations. Results supported a model of social competence which maintains that expressed emotions and understanding of emotions influence social cognition about affective and behavioral aspects of developmentally important peer situations. Social…

Studied the associations between measures of friendship and popularity derived from nomination and rating scales procedures with a sample of school-age and early adolescent boys and girls. Found that each of these techniques can provide parallel measures of popularity (sociometric preference) and friendship (whether the child is participating in a…

Three hundred preschoolers aged 3 through 5 were tested for their cognitive style and their preferences for different play areas. Results indicated that field-independent (FI) children (socially detached with high analytical abilities) preferred physical and block play more than field-dependent (FD) children (socially adept and sensitive) and that…

Used a teacher rating scale and coded videotaped observations to examine 30 toddlers' emerging social competence in an unfamiliar peer group during a 4-week summer camp. Found a correlation between the prosocial component of the teacher rating scale and observations of children's interactive-functional play and overall rate of interactive play…

At the University of Edinburgh, 70 animal science students participated in a voluntary 1-hour per week course designed to develop interpersonal and transferable skills, such as job search, peer evaluation, and teamwork. Most students found the course useful in improving oral communication and listening skills and understanding of teamwork. (SK)

Four basic steps for using cooperative learning to teach social skills to young children are discussed, including targeting specific social skills; defining the skills behaviorally; designing and implement the cooperative activities; and processing and evaluate. (DB)

A 6-month prospective study of 138 ninth-grade inner-city students examined links between initial emotional adjustment and subsequent social competence at school. High temporal consistency was found within each social competence domain, with some exceptions. Results suggest ecological influences in adolescent adjustment. (DR)

The principal as all-knowing patriarch and problem-solver is passe. Today's principals must be team builders who can inspire a diverse group of professionals to cooperate. Principals need a leadership vision and strategic planning skills. Superintendents should teach principals how to dream creatively, conduct environmental scans, assess…

Review of research on home schooling shows evidence that home-educated children are socially, intellectually, and academically well developed. Reasons for effectiveness include natural learning, application of varied forms of discipline, adaptation to learning styles, flexible use of curricula, efficient use of time, information access, first-hand…

In order to investigate interpersonal skills between librarians and engineering personnel, 140 surveys were distributed to engineering special librarians. Responses were used to evaluate interaction and potential communication barriers. Results indicated that library awareness problems and communication difficulties can be overcome through…

The national guidelines for curriculum in Norway require a residential outdoor experience between grades one and nine. Programs observed at four camp schools included activities to increase competence in maintaining one's safety and well being outdoors, to enhance social and personal skills, and to expose students to the nation's cultural heritage…

Questioned 2,291 American males to determine the proportion of men who assault only extrafamilial persons, are violent only toward their wives, and are violent in both spheres. Results suggest that 90 percent of violent males specialized in their choice of victims, choosing to assault only wives or nonfamily members, but not both. (RJM)

This study assessed effects of teaching sociodramatic play skills to three children (ages five to nine) with autism. Positive changes were observed in play, language, and social skills. These changes generalized across toys and settings, although little generalization to other play partners occurred. (Author/DB)

Investigated children's classroom sociometry and size of their best-friend networks. For both classroom and playground settings, popular children had the most reciprocal best friends, while rejected children had the fewest, but had more on the playground than in the classroom. Results suggest that constraints and opportunities of different…