Results of a study of third grade reading and mathematics scores in 1,021 New York State public elementary schools show that variations in school spending and educational resources, peer group influences, and community socioeconomic characteristics do affect average student achievement. (Author/RW)

Reports experimental research testing the following hypotheses: (1) sex differences in self-confidence are a function of a particular ability area; and (2) self-confidence of women is more influenced than men's by the characteristics of the particular individual with whom they compare themselves. (Author/EF)

Project Special Friend, a reverse mainstreaming program in which elementary school volunteers worked with severely retarded students, is described. After one year the program was found to have increased the social awareness of the retarded students and given the volunteers a much better understanding of their handicapped peers' problems and…

Future Homemakers of America members are telling the public about the role of vocational education in their lives. They are involved in a national campaign to inform others of the benefits of vocational education organizations. (JOW)

Various aspects of cheating in the schools are discussed: student motivation for and attitudes about cheating; most common types of cheating; cultural differences in attitudes about cheating; and teacher action to discourage or detect cheating. (CJ)

Finds that a trusted person is one who is highly influential; has an internal locus of control, a low need to control others, and high self-esteem; and is open to being influenced by others. (RL)

Supports the conclusion that social influence may occur prior to the emergence of group norms. Shows consistency with the general proposition that people behave in a manner they believe will lead to smooth social interaction. (Author/RL)

Examined relationships among drinking norms, peer alcohol use, alcohol availability, drinking location, alcohol consumption, and drinking-related problems among young adult drinkers (N=3,095). Results show that drinking norms and peer alcohol use influenced alcohol consumption and drinking consequences. Drinking in public contributed to alcohol…

Of 272 students surveyed, 46% reported using fake identification to obtain alcohol. Fraternity or sorority members were much more likely than other students to report using false identification to obtain alcohol. Results indicate a strong correlation among peers, frequency of drinking, and using fake identification. (RJM)

Evaluates a social development model of psychosocial predictors of drug use in Anglo and Hispanic children and adolescents. Structural equation models reveal that patterns and predictors of drug use are distinct for each sub-group, by age and ethnicity. Later drug use was primarily associated with prior use, exposure to parental and peer models of…

Examined relative influence of parenting behaviors (support, behavioral control, and psychological control) and deviant peers on trajectories of externalizing and internalizing problems in early adolescence. Found that parents' firm behavioral control seemed to halt the upward trajectory in externalizing problems among adolescents with deviant…

This study assessed how schools, neighborhoods, nuclear families, and friendship groups jointly contribute to positive change during early adolescence. Analyses showed that the four context indices modestly intercorrelated at the individual student level, but clustered more tightly at the school and neighborhood levels. Joint influence of all four…

Reviews relevant research to examine risk factors and behaviors associated with adolescent aggression and violence. Adolescent aggression and violence develop and manifest within a complex constellation of factors (individual, family, school/academic, peer-related, community and neighborhood, and situational). Different risk factors are more…

This ethnographic study investigated first-graders' social construction of their classroom computer experience. Findings showed that children constantly negotiate between their own individual and collective goals in the classroom as they create their own definition of computer use while conforming to the teacher's rules. Considers the usefulness…

Outlines a peer leadership program in the schools. Provides a brief overview of the historical roots of peer leadership and addresses the issues relevant to implementing a peer leadership program, such as selecting peer leaders, peer leaders' role in education, educators' roles, and how educators can become involved in these programs. (RJM)