Data from a sample of 673 Chinese adolescents lent support to the hypothesis that concepts of success or achievement goals affect both inclination to and the actual performance of prosocial acts. Sex differences and grade differences in the relationship between conceptions of success and prosocial and antisocial behaviors were found. Discusses…

A study examined the effects of combining naturalistic teaching and peer-mediated tactics to address the developmental skills of 10 preschoolers with autism. Compared to naturalistic tactics only, the involvement of typical peers resulted in a substantial increase in the duration and rate of skills addressed during each teaching episode.…

A study involving two children (ages 7-8) with autism and eight typical peers investigated the efficacy of Pivotal Response Training implemented by multiple peers in enhancing social competency of children with autism. After treatment, the subjects engaged in high levels of interactions, initiations, varied toy play, and language use. (Author/CR)

This study of social grouping versus curricular revision components of cooperative learning involved 2 eighth-grade students with moderate/severe disabilities and 22 peers. Both conditions occasioned high levels of active engagement by students with and without disabilities. The study concluded that benefits from such curricular revision are not…

Examined a teacher-led intervention that used interpersonal and intrapersonal variables to enhance social relationships and adjust behaviors of elementary and secondary regular and special needs students. Teacher surveys indicated that the intervention had a partial positive effect on classroom social life and a differential effect on elementary…

Used cluster analysis to examine eighth graders' self-concept (SC) structures and relate those to behavior in bullying situations. Findings indicated that six groups with similar SC profiles could be identified, which differed significantly from each other in how much members tended to bully others, assist the bully, reinforce the bully, and…

Moshing (intense crowd dancing) and other physical activities common at youth and rock concerts are discussed from the perspectives of safety and of the responsibility of sponsoring organizations, especially colleges and universities. Considerations in creating a safe environment at student events, planning the logistics of such an event, and…

Describes a combined initiative between Britain and Germany on educating secondary school students against racism and xenophobia. The development and planning of the initiative is outlined, including teacher responses. Concluding comments review some basic principles that emerged for future plans and some examples of how the initiative's aims…

Measures family communication environments of children in grades one, four, six, and seven, using dialogs of family communication with children identifying their family type. Reveals an interaction among family type, sex, and grade level for both social withdrawal and social self-restraint, suggesting that family communication environments may be…

Presents responses from a group of 10-13 year olds who attend school in St. Petersburg, Russia, answering the question "what do you know about America and Americans?" Considers what can be done to change the negative aspects of the U.S. image and to address character education. (CMK)

A study involving six boys (ages 2-9) with autism found the use of naltrexone improved social initiations on videotape samples, social scale of the Gilliam Autism Rating Scales (4 out of 6 improved), stereotypies scale of GARS (5 out of 6 improved), and attention problems (4 out of 6 improved). (Contains references.) (CR)

This study has dual goals of confirming the existence of a "Withdrawal/Apathy/[Lack of] Vigor" (WAV) dimension of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and determining if it is descriptive of either depletion or disengagement-related change in older adults. High endorsement rates suggest WAV may be congruent with disengagement or depletion and may…

Details the second part of a three-phase study that examined the language and actions children use when being sociable and cooperative with peers through the Social Play Continuum analysis tool. Concludes that the Continuum may be a potential tool for observing, better understanding, and more appropriately intervening in children's play for the…

Examined the relationship between quality of adjustment in adolescents and a set of psychiatric diagnoses, personality traits, parental bonding, and social support variables. Through the use of various questionnaires it was found that several variables (e.g. Conduct Disorder and Social Conformity) had a significant role in classifying adolescents…

Investigates the effects of individual versus cooperative learning on different aspects of 373 fifth-grade students' functioning: (1) cognitive; (2) affective; (3) metacognitive; and (4) social. Reports strong positive effects of cooperative learning on achievement and positive effects of cooperative learning in the cognitive level. (CMK)