Analyzes patterns of polarized socialization among Black and White students in an urban high school in a northeastern industrial area. Finds that polarized socialization occurs under educational and social conditions such as sectioning in schools and residential segregation in the community. (AOS)

Interviews regarding physical and sexual development were conducted with 838 children ages five through 15 in Australia, England, North America, and Sweden. Children identified the people whom they asked sex-related questions and indicated their major sources of information. Mothers, school, and the media were the most frequently cited sources.…

Examined early childhood teachers' behaviors when they became involved in children's naturally occurring peer interactions in the context of free choice activities. Results suggest the importance of maintaining overall program quality, including appropriate ratios, as a means of supporting early childhood teachers' ability and availability to…

Considers the formal education of a group of Native American students who have not traditionally done well in school and suggests a cultural mismatch between the home culture of these students and the culture of the Western school. Findings indicate that culture influences discourse styles, expectations for classroom behavior, and classroom social…

This study surveyed ninth- and eleventh-graders' evaluations of social exclusion based on social group membership. Responses indicated that participants found exclusion less wrong than denying resources, and used fewer moral and more conventional reasons to justify judgments. Participants relied on their group knowledge or stereotypes in…

Investigates the influence of social relations on the behavior of disabled boys. Reports observations and interviews of three dyads relative to the exertion of dominance and the aim for equality. Concludes that in relationships not based on friendship, ruthless assertion and resolute defenses are reinforced while friendships generate a concern for…

Outlines an instructional framework for peer discussions about literature. Describes two teacher roles: "scaffolding" during peer discussion and "coaching" before and after peer discussion, roles which promote students' social and interpretative abilities to manage their own literary discussions. (SR)

The status of formal recommendations is different in the naturalistic evaluation model than in the traditional empirical model. The evaluation of a high school peer support program for alcohol abuse prevention illustrates that reader-generated recommendations may have more usefulness and impact than do evaluator-generated ideas. (SLD)

Assesses differences between the self-perceptions of gifted high school freshmen (n=62) and nongifted peers (n=162) regarding intimacy with family and peers, social support, family responsibilities, self-esteem, depression, and risk-taking behavior. Results show that gifted students may be socially precocious when compared with their nongifted…

Describes an extracurricular writing program launched in a Chinese university for English-as-a-Foreign-Language students. Particular emphasis is on "English corner," the most popular activity. (Author/VWL)

Offers suggestions for helping students find enjoyable leisure reading books. Highlights include identifying subject matter, characterization, setting, or pace similar to previously enjoyed books; tools of young adult readers' advisory, including annual lists, bibliographies, and catalogs; peer reviews and recommendations; review newsletters; and…

Presents a network-assessment technique and examples showing how group experiences affect children's behavior. Compares classical sociometry and the use of composite social maps. Discusses quantifying peer-network information, using peer-network profiles as context descriptors, and identifying change in children and networks. Shows that peer-group…

The roles that peers play in the decision to go to college are not well understood. Logistic regression is used to explore the role that peers play in the college-going decisions of a sample of low-income urban minority public high school graduates drawn from the National Education Longitudinal Study (NELS:88) database. Friends' plans are found to…

Discusses the idea that black students underperform in school because of cultural opposition to "acting white." Reassesses "acting white" and directs researchers to examine variations found in students' peer groups. Highlights ability of students to sustain their black identity and achieve academically by managing their…

This study sought variables associated with current smoking for young adult males and females in college compared with those not in college. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by a cohort of 1,270 young adults (ages 20-24) who have been followed from grade 6 for 10 years. Both bivariate and multivariable analyses of demographic…