Used the Kindergarten Performance Profile to analyze the relationship of classroom skills in the fall and spring of kindergarten to second-grade achievement. Results indicated kindergarten work skills were significantly related to achievement for both boys and girls. Kindergarten social skills were related to achievement scores for girls only.…

Examined the performance of 30 learning disabled and 30 nondisabled children in grades one through seven on the Test of Social Inference (TSI). Results indicated that disabled students obtained lower TSI total scores than did nondisabled students; they also performed relatively lower on TSI items requiring more verbal expression. (NRB)

Examined relationships among cognitive complexity (social perception skill), verbal ability, and communication competence in classroom communication. Found (1) moderate correlations between cognitive complexity and verbal ability and between communication competence and verbal ability and (2) minimal association between the overall communication…

Examined employee attitudes toward women in general and women as managers, and perceived communication competencies of women managers. Found that female employees demonstrated a more positive regard for women in general, a less traditional view of women as managers, and a more positive perception of their communication competencies. (PD)

Argues that effective supervision requires the ability to acquire skills in a variety of areas, to select those appropriate to a task, and to use them in concert. Discusses a number of skills necessary for good supervision. (FL)

Teachers who served as advisers to help other teachers improve their classroom techniques in the Marin County (California) Office of Education's Teacher Advisor Project found six principles affecting successful, nonthreatening relationships: sharing common language, focusing on key concerns, gathering hard evidence, interacting fully, acting…

An intervention procedure consisting of identifying or arranging a social/communicative situation, waiting for and observing student-initiated social/communicative behavior, and imitating and elaborating on responses was effective in increased student opportunities for controlling aspects of student-teacher interaction. Substantial improvements in…

Nonretarded fourth through sixth-graders (N=91) viewed a videotape of either a nonretarded, mildly retarded, or moderately retarded target child reading. They then were read a story depicting the target as either socially competent, withdrawn, or aggressive. Prosocial behavior attributes had a positive effect on children's attitudes and behavioral…

Ontological knowledge is reflected in a communicator's ability to describe, predict, and explain human behavior. This study explores the nature of ontological or social knowledge and its association with communication competence. (PD)

The previous articles in this journal on social skills are examined for their implications for training and practice of school psychology. The author concludes that recent developments from studies of social competence and social skills provide increased opportunities for school psychologists to make progress in general areas. (Author/EGS)

The process of self-disclosure among adolescents and parents may change as a result of adolescent development, specifically, changes in cognitive and physical development and self-concept. Implications of changes in self-disclosure are discussed in relation to parent-adolescent interaction. (Author/EGS)

Discusses the differences between traditional pedagogical methods and small-group cooperative learning. Describes the benefits of the cooperative approach, including emphasis on learning rather than on competition, improved comprehension, and increased social awareness. Provides hints for administrators implementing cooperative learning programs.…

Investigated responses of counselor trainees (N=31) to easy versus difficult clients in terms of clinical judgments. Results indicated that clients with a difficult interpersonal style were not regarded as more psychologically disturbed, but were rated as having less potential for change and less ego strength. (LLL)

Compared the effectiveness of a social consequence curriculum to health effects curriculums in a high school smoking prevention program. Results showed none of the programs was significantly more successful in reducing smoking onset or encouraging cessation. Teacher-taught programs were as effective as those taught by college students. (JAC)

Identified six dimensions of personal constructs related to rehabilitation counseling as the first part of an investigation into how these variables influence clinical problem solving. Findings have implications for competence assessment research, definition of the affective domain in rehabilitation counseling, and identification of its unique…