This paper describes some of the more current research in the area of social networks of the early adolescent (ages 10 to 15), and discusses the direction of research in adolescent social networks. (KC)

The guidance of the youngster towards appropriate behavioral models is one of the greatest challenges and responsibilities of teachers and parents; children of school age need models yet are unable to discriminate fully among the potential models vying for attention. (CJ)

The Student Participation and Counselling Effort (SPACE), a peer interaction approach to classroom behavior crises, was successfully used in a small rural school to help adolescent students manage their own behavior. (CL)

Comparisons of self-reported leisure showed an overall shift toward more positive, socially accepted leisure activities at follow-up. More free time was spent with family and friends who did not use drugs. Positive leisure at follow-up was related to favorable outcomes on drug use, criminality, and productive activities. (Author)

A confirmatory, longitudinal design was used to determine whether deviant adolescent peer culture influences subsequent drug use beyond that which may be obtained from knowledge of present drug use and perceived sources of supply and support. Peer culture measures did not increase prediction over a one year period. (Author/JKS)

Creative dramatics were used to stimulate the moral development of students in inner-city schools. Moral dilemma situations were dramatized. The dramatic presentations, followed by discussion, may be a method for growth in moral judgments and ultimately in advanced moral behavior. (Author)

Five-, eight-, and eleven-year-olds performed object assembly tasks alone, before a neutral observer, or before observers needing to learn about the task. Performances by children in this last condition were consistently superior to those in the other conditions. Neutral audiences had negative effects on eleven-year-olds. (RL)

Describes a cross-age peer mentoring program to help students with learning disabilities learn appropriate social behaviors. Discusses the goals and objectives of the program and provides details on program specifics. Gives evaluation strategies and suggests that social competency is better evaluated through observation and informal sociograms.…

Examines the acquisition of new sound changes by 3- and 4-year-old children in asymmetrical child care situations. Results reveal that the children had acquired the changes and emphasize that the dialect transmission period begins before the age of maximal peer group influence. The findings support the possibility that child care asymmetry affects…

Compared the characteristics of friends, the environments of the friendship network, and the nature of peer relations of students (N=191) at-risk and not at risk of leaving high school. Results indicate that at risk students had more dropout friends, more working friends, fewer school friends, and fewer same-sex friends. (RJM)

Drawing on two studies, investigated how students' (N=471) school adjustment and sense of school membership related to future expectations. Results indicate that students' social acceptance and school experiences, especially with their peers, predicted future expectations, suggesting that students' individual experiences during school hours guide…

A study of 1,025 New Zealand children found that, although those exposed to childhood sexual abuse (CSA) were at increased risks of psychiatric disorder and adjustment difficulties, not all individuals exposed to CSA developed difficulties. The influence of the nature and quality of peer and family relationships is discussed. (Author/CR)

Reasons for the gender gap on mathematics achievement test scores among the gifted are discussed, including the influence of teachers and peers. Recommendations are offered for changing the classroom environment and for implementing interventions that would affect the external factors surrounding gifted girls. Possible future research areas are…

Surveyed rural French students age 13-18 years to investigate the extent to which measures of social control and learning/differential association theories could be generalized to, and help explain, delinquency. Social control measures either did not form reliable scales or were not significantly related to various offense scales. Measures of…

Assessed the extent of gang involvement among homeless and runaway youth, comparing gang members, gang-involved youth (not members), and non-gang youth on several dimensions. Interview data indicated that 15.4 percent of the youth were gang members and 32.2 percent were involved in gangs. These youth reported more family problems and school…