Examines public attitudes toward parental discipline practices, incidences of parental practices, the public's support for and involvement in child abuse prevention efforts, and the public's perceptions of causes of child maltreatment. Found that most persons view physical punishment and repeated yelling and swearing at children as harmful.…

This study of interactions between three severely withdrawn, autistic preschool children and six nonhandicapped peers found that peers can be effectively taught strategies to increase appropriate social behaviors of autistic classmates, and a group-oriented reinforcement contingency is an effective complement to teacher-prompted interventions and…

This study compared 13 students (grades 6 through 8) with behavior disorders who were mainstreamed part of each school day with 6 similar students not mainstreamed. Overall, the mainstreamed students had higher reading and written language scores, better work habits, and higher grades. Nonmainstreamed students demonstrated more extremes in social…

Four low-achieving fifth-grade African-American males with behavioral disorders tutored sight words to four low-achieving second-grade African-American males with behavioral disorders. The tutoring appeared to have positive effects on sight word vocabulary and positive social interactions for both tutors and tutees but not on self-perceptions of…

A former editor of this journal, 1985-88, selects an outstanding article from his tenure that addresses the pervasive influence of perceptions on educational practice and research. The article selected examines the influence of perceptions on behavior, accuracy of perceptions, capacity of individuals to express perceptions, perception processes,…

This study compared the problem-solving skills of 73 children (ages 6-14) with mild mental retardation, who exhibited either adjusted classroom behavior or impulsive or inhibited behavior. Irrespective of age or intelligence quotient, adjusted children had a larger number of relevant solutions to problems and a higher ratio of aggressive…

Summarizes recent ERIC documents on interpersonal competence among preschool and kindergarten children. (BB)

Relations among self-reported social skills, teacher ratings of classroom behavior, and direct observations of social interactions among 87 adolescents with mild mental retardation were investigated. Results demonstrated that (1) four domains of social skills were related to students' task orientation; and (2) the three sources of information…

A study was done of 35 male and 92 female undergraduate's perceptions of 4 video-taped sexually harassing interactions between professors and students. Behaviors of female professors were more acceptable than were the same behaviors of male professors. Female study participants perceived behaviors differently from male participants. (JB)

Fifth grade social behavioral profiles of 75 arrested and nonarrested adolescent boys were assessed to determine their ability to predict the later arrest status of the boys in grades 5-7. Using such measures as teacher ratings of social skills and observations of negative aggressive behavior, 75 percent of subsequently arrested subjects were…

This review of 28 studies involving children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder concludes that there is little empirical support for cognitive training's clinical utility. The paper discusses cognitive training's efficacy as a single intervention and as an adjunct to stimulant treatment, and its impact on cognitive, academic, and…

Social-emotional behaviors of 76 adolescents with moderate to profound hearing impairment enrolled in residential and public schools were assessed by their classroom teachers. No significant differences were found between students in total communication and oral programs, nor between students in residential and public schools. Contradictions with…

Administered psychosocial scales based on concept of social bond to measure alcohol use among 466 college seniors. Found that three psychosocial scales used accounted for 81 percent of variance in current alcohol use. Perceived Parental Approval of Teenage Drinking and Drinking Standards had moderate effect on alcohol use, but Tolerance of Minor…

Contends that the sociology of U.S. organized religion is undergoing a period of ferment. Discusses the development of an open market in the historiography and sociology of U.S. religion studies. Concludes with suggestions for further research. (CFR)

Discusses an ethnographic study into the phenomenon of resistance in a middle school, focusing on seven students in seventh grade. Proposes the need to negotiate classroom life in ways that take into account individuals' backgrounds, strengths, and needs, and the need to create a place where identity and difference can exist in respectful…