The author of EC 602 983 comments on his areas of research interest, speculates about the reasons why the social adjustment of kindergartners appears so different from that of older elementary school children, and examines the benefits of providing kindergarten experiences that maximize interactions among bright pupils. (JDD)

Offers a narrative based on a real event, in the form of a "docustory," describing that moment when teaching worked--when, in an instructional setting, communication was "perfect,""best," or "excellent." Describes a role play activity that demonstrates to students how to draw upon each other's store of information, reasoning ability, and common…

Eastern Michigan University offers a faculty development program in which featured faculty members in various disciplines may be observed. Faculty are selected on the basis of high student evaluations, recommendations of deans and department heads, and their own interest and availability. Observers find the classroom visits and subsequent…

Among 424 urban Puerto Rican high school students, 12 percent of males and 10 percent of females had smoked in the previous month. Past smoking and intentions to smoke were associated with exposure to smokers during recreation and smoking behavior of close friends but not family members. Contains 27 references. (SV)

Assessed 237 seventh and eighth graders for drug/alcohol use, extracurricular activities, peer influence, and personal attitudes. Substance abusers reported little involvement in extracurricular activities, spent more time with friends than with family, and identified friends as using drugs and alcohol. Nonabusing adolescents tended to be highly…

Used longitudinal data from 76 adolescent girls and their parents to investigate effects of parental warmth and supportiveness on adolescents' depressed affect, attitudes about sexuality, peer influence, and sexual experience. Girls with more emotionally distant parents were more likely to manifest symptoms of depression. Depressed affect was…

This study, involving 904 adolescents, examined the influence from parents and friends on adolescents' self-reported level of leisure-time physical activity. Survey responses revealed that, although no one type of parental/friend influence was greater than another, parental and peer physical activity and support did influence adolescent physical…

Greek advisors feel some sororities abuse vulnerable young women who will do almost anything, including self-destructive behavior sometimes leading to death, to join. Although awareness of hazing is increasing on campus, many of the activities persist. Members feel membership advantages outweigh problems. (MSE)

Discusses the controversy concerning "The Nurture Assumption," a book that suggests children are shaped by their peers more than their parents. The message runs counter to decades of child development research and recent findings that parents are crucial in children's emotional and intellectual development. This paper examines criticism of the…

Shows how latent variable growth modeling can be utilized to examine change in students' attitudes toward science over the middle and high school years. Reports that students' attitudes toward science generally decline during the middle and high school years. Defines the factors that affect student attitudes as teacher encouragement, peer…

Examined how peer interaction influenced Chinese-American high school students to adopt strategies of accommodation or resistance. Choice of strategy for the six students studied arose not only from the group's voluntary minority status, but from more local factors. Results are explored in terms of cultural ecological theory. (SLD)

Role play can teach college students responsible alcohol consumption behavior. The paper presents a technique to help students develop skills and attitudes that lead to responsible alcohol use behaviors. The technique models appropriate behaviors for party hosts, helps students put knowledge into action, and lets students explore the potential…

Study comparing self-reported alcohol-use patterns and the personal beliefs and expectancies about alcohol use of 385 fraternity and sorority members and 1,518 non-Greek-affiliated college students found alcohol use higher among Greek-affiliated students and highest at private parties. Peer norms and perceived benefits predicted use levels. (EMK)

Focuses on teasing as a form of verbal aggression in the educational environment. Examines the relationships between undergraduate students' recollections of receiving peer teasing during their junior and senior high school years and students' self-esteem and affect for school. Yields limited correlations between peer teasing and self-esteem, and…

Examined relationships between worksite influences and smoking and quitting behavior among adolescent grocery employees. Surveys on interpersonal, intrapersonal, and organizational factors indicated that regular smokers were 30 percent more likely to receive co-worker encouragement to quit than occasional and experimental smokers. Compared to…