A 22-item instrument (My Classmates) was developed to measure fifth-sixth graders' perceptions of their peer relationships, and administered to 621 students. The instrument's reliability and validity were supported. Group membership was found to be related to certain student characteristics. (The questionnaire is appended). (GDC)

Discusses the necessity of student-student interactions for enhancing achievement, socialization, and healthy psychological development. Presents evidence concerning the constructive impact of the appropriate use of cooperative, competitive, and individualistic goal structures and the power of effectively managed controversy within the classroom.…

A residence hall coed living situation can be an effective setting for men and women to explore issues, attitudes, values, and behaviors related to sex-role exploration. A coherent programing strategy should be employed. The implementation of one such approach, including a class for credit, is detailed. (Author)

Investigates the relationship between maturity of moral judgement and perception of maternal and peer attitudes in Brazilian sixth- and seventh-grade boys. (CM)

A fourth year honors thesis research course in psychology at the University of Toronto uses the device of adversarial interaction to improve critical thinking. Course components, including thesis submission, research seminar, student relations, and supervision, are designed to simulate the constraints, criticism, and relationships of actual…

The author describes the use of Muppet-like puppets to demonstrate in a regular classroom what it's like to be handicapped and to illustrate the nature of positive peer relationships between disabled and nondisabled children. (SBH)

Age-dependent differences in the relationship between physical attractiveness and the social perceptions of acquainted classmates were investigated in children (n=160) 3-10 years of age. (Author/MP)

Comparison of adolescent sex information sources for Black and White males and females in a northeast Texas community was made from 1964 and 1974 questionnaire data. While parents remained the preferred source of sex information, a general change was noted from parents to friends as the stated source. (Author/SJL)

Two experiments were conducted to investigate female adults' immediate impressions of learning disabled children with whom they were unfamiliar, and to analyze the relative contributions of the child's verbal and nonverbal behaviors upon such impressions. (DLS)

Teams-Games-Tournament (TGT), an instructional technique involving student teams and learning games, is proposed as an alternative classroom structure for children with special needs. TGT exceeded individualized instruction on students' attraction to one another, frequency of peer tutoring, and percent of time on task. (Author)

Reports findings from a survey of 385 supported employment agencies on their use of natural supports in time-lined and extended services. Eighty-five percent reported that their agencies emphasize natural supports and that these supports have been successful. Resistance to natural supports by employers and coworkers is discussed. (Author/CR)

Traces the evolution of the social competence concept from the 1970s to the present, and addresses matching social skills training to social skills deficits, understanding contextual issues in social skills training, generalization of social skills training, and developing and using meaningful outcome measures in social skills training. (Author/CR)

A discussion of techniques for closing college class sessions and courses, often problematic for both teachers and students, first looks at the social dynamics between faculty and students, examines ways to improve student-student interaction at the end of class, and considers problems in ending courses. A number of classroom activities providing…

Examined cortisol and behavioral reactions of 36-month olds in an unfamiliar playgroup. Found that, when compared to at-home levels, cortisol levels were lower when children were receiving adult support and higher for one-third of children when interacting with peers alone, and that children showing adrenocortical arousal before the challenging…

Providing leadership for a diverse camp population and providing diverse leadership is a challenge. Presents ways to diversify campers and staff, and ways to promote diversity through socialization, education, and experience. Planned and spontaneous incidents should be related to diversity, and similarities should be discussed so that no one feels…