This study of "naturally occurring" employment among high school students examines claims about the nature of the workplace. Drawing on interview, questionnaire, and observational data, it is argued that the President's Science Advisory Committee's (PSAC) expectations on developing responsibility and adult social relations in adolescents…

Describes techniques for teaching interpersonal and group communication skills in the social studies classroom. Activities include group role playing, skill practice trio, and concentric circles, which focus on pairing students to discuss certain topics. The author stresses the necessity for regular feedback forms and sessions. (KC)

Assigned depressed outpatients (N=32) to either group assertion training or "traditional" group psychotherapy. Results showed that over a relatively short period of time, assertion training was more effective than traditional psychotherapy in increasing self-reported assertiveness and in alleviating depression. (Author)

Presents an inner city early intervention program based on a social competence conceptualization. Key elements of the school-based program and an evaluation are described. The program focuses on children's competencies and problems in assessment, intervention, and evaluation. Ratings by teachers indicated interventions improved competencies, but…

Describes a three-year case study of a young Black boy at a day care center to illustrate that racial tracking through exclusion from structured learning activities and group experiences can lead to social incompetence in young minority children. (Author/MJL)

Studied the effects of family network therapy on the social climate of freshmen in college dormitories. The University Resident Environment Scale found significant increases in the relationship dimensions of involvement and emotional support for peer network therapy. (Author/JAC)

Effective procedures of selection, training, and evaluation of admissions personnel are similar to those of any efficiently run business, the primary difference being that students of the institution are served. Finding employees with necessary job skills as well as sensitivity and understanding presents special difficulties for admissions…

Contrasts the relationships between the communication apprehension construct and its two most common operationalizations--the 20- and 25-item versions of the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension (PRCA). Concludes that the PRCA may be valuable as an indirect measure of evaluation apprehension, but not of oral communication apprehension.…

The Audit of Administrator Communication Instrument was developed to provide the principal with teacher perceptions of the principal's communication skills and to collect research data on principal-teacher communication. The instrument was developed in three stages: theoretical constructs; testing and analysis; and revision of the instrument. (JN)

Eight to eleven year-old girls and their counselors in a summer camp were studied to ascertain the impact of the camp experience on the campers' self-concept and social competence behavior. Among the findings were that the campers' perceptions of the counselors as accepting and controlling were associated with significant changes in self-concept…

Studied the use of a social learning approach to reduce the unpopularity of an 11-year-old girl. Used a multiple baseline design to successively implement reinforcement contingencies on each class of social skill. Substantial improvements in performance were noted. Sociometric ratings of popularity by others improved after intervention. (Author/RC)

Developed an instrument to measure levels of identity attainment in mid-life women. Established items for three categories: physical/biological identity, career identity, and interpersonal identity. Includes scales and a t-test. Data suggested an association between identity and various life circumstances. Demonstrates the reliability of the…

A course to teach students how to interview medical patients, to allow for discussion of student concerns about entering into clinical work, and to make students aware of the complex psychosocial factors related to medical illness is described. (MLW)

Critically evaluates in terms of predictive and concurrent validity a widely used method of identifying children at risk in peer relations. This method emphasizes children's total rate of peer interaction, regardless of the quality or skillfulness of the interaction. Recommendations are given for future research in this area. (Author/DB)

Lists goals for self-actualization that could be incorporated into a social studies program and provides activities for the achievement of these goals. The activities involve communication and group participation. (KC)