This study examined how children's play varied as function of child's sex, play partner's sex, and whether they played in dyads or groups. Observation data revealed that boys' same-sex play was more active-forceful, farther from presence of adults, and more stereotyped than girls', a pattern exaggerated in groups. Mixed-sex play was more likely…

Investigates how school peer support systems studied 2 years earlier have evolved. Interviews focused on the respondents' perceptions and experiences of the school's peer support system. Results reveal widespread support for the systems and a strong sense that both teachers and peer supporters were increasingly confident about the value of their…

Describes the condition of the adult returning student. Lists the factors that make for good positive socialization for these students. Describes the University of Rhode Island's College of Continuing Education's entry course for new adult students, which facilitates their successful socialization into the educational community. (JS)

An effective approach to camp staff orientation involves veteran staff leading orientation groups for new staff. In addition to familiarizing staff members with the camp, group leaders are responsible for making members feel at ease through activities. Details a highly successful five-day orientation led by veteran staff. (LP)

Suggests that learning communities are of high interest in higher education now because they are compatible with changing epistemologies about the nature of knowledge, because research generally supports their educational benefits, and because they help institutions of higher education meet their missions of educating students for their lives of…

Examined whether adolescents identify with the crowd to which they are assigned by their peers or with higher status crowds, and whether they are more likely to select the normal crowd or their peer-assigned crowd as their social-reference group. Found that specific crowds' status changes over time, and that there are age differences in…

Investigates whether adolescents utilize a peer listening service for reasons other than: discussing peer relationships, family problems, sexuality issues, or to have someone just to talk to. Results indicate that the callers were predominately female and of high school age. Most frequently discussed were peer relationships, followed by family…

Twelve nursing students served as peer leaders during clinical rotation. Self-evaluations identified educational benefits: practice in prioritizing, enhancement of critical thinking and technical skills, awareness of peers as resources, and development of management skills. (SK)

Examined peer group structures in low- and regular-track high school algebra classrooms, studying clique group affiliations defined by students and their teachers regarding academic achievement. Clique group affiliation was a potential predictor of academic achievement in both types of classes. Successful achievement appeared to be a factor that…

Illustrates how dyads and group discussions can build student confidence and bring out the mathematician in all students. Dyads provide the structure and opportunity for all to develop their potential. (ASK)

The present study examined ethnically Dutch preadolescents' understanding and reasoning about asylum seeker peers and friendships. The description of an asylum seeker was compared with that of a Moroccan and a Dutch peer. The findings suggest that asylum seekers were described more negatively than peers from the other two groups. Additionally, we…

The aim of this study was to investigate the toddler and preschool predictors of early peer social preference. Behavioral and social functioning were examined in a sample of children across the toddler and preschool years from parent and teacher observations. Kindergarten social behavior and peer social preference were assessed in the children's…

The stress-buffering model posits that social support mitigates the relation between negative life events and onset of depression, but prospective studies have provided little support for this assertion. The authors sought to provide a more sensitive test of this model by addressing certain methodological and statistical limitations of past…

There are relatively few examples of emancipatory research in which people with an intellectual disability become co-workers in the research process. The current study examined the feasibility of training someone with an intellectual disability to conduct quality of life interviews with peers. The extent to which response bias in a sample of 21…

The influence of older peers on younger children's emerging symbolic play was examined for 24 young children in eight participating long-day child-care centres. Toddler participants (aged from 17 to 31 months) were observed and video-taped in three conditions in free play in the outdoor environment as follows: condition one, with their same-age…