Explains how many schools are abandoning the middle school model and returning to kindergarten through eighth grade schools. Notes that one of the professional organizations committed to middle schools believes academic rigor is only feasible in middle schools. Concludes that in the future, the presence and popularity of middle schools will depend…

Presents discussion of basic components and characteristics of contingency contracts. Includes case study in which contingency contracting procedures were integrated within a behavioral consultation model used by a school psychologist consulting with a classroom teacher to modify personal hygiene of 12-year-old male. (Author/ABL)

Investigated effectiveness of expanded juvenile court services (job preparation, outdoor experiential, and family skill building components) program versus traditional probation supervision in reducing probationer offense activities of adolescent offenders (n=45). Found intervention failed to yield desired effects although experimental subjects…

Examined variables associated with eating-disordered adults to determine whether they correlate with scores on Adapted Eating Attitudes Test (AEAT). Results from fourth, sixth, and eighth grade girls (N=144) revealed no significant difference in AEAT scores across grades. Only two of seven independent variables, Test of Cognitive Skills scores and…

Tested 149 adolescent residents of county center for juvenile status offenders. Data analysis revealed eight variables discriminating between first-time and recidivist runaways. Variables characterized recidivist runaway as urban Caucasian having previous contact with agency; staying at center average of 13.6 days; and having lower general…

Highly creative children (n=100) and uncreative children (n=100) were selected from 1,450 fifth- and sixth- grade students. Comparisons using data from the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking revealed significant differences in terms of quantity and quality of primary process content. Girls gave more libidinal content and boys gave more aggressive…

Tested the validity of the Friendship Qualities Scale (FQS), which assesses the quality of children's and early adolescents' relationships with their best friends along five aspects of the friendship relation: companionship, conflict, help/aid, security, and closeness. Discusses the dimensions according to the issues related to the measurement of…

By introducing creative writing to preadolescent and adolescent youth in a detention center in Missouri, the program hoped to change their perceptions of their lack of language skills. The leader separated idea generation from mechanical composition. The variety of activities provided opportunities to make each participant feel valued and…

Data on nearly 400 preadolescents from a study, conducted over 3 years, of the effects of group psychotherapy on close same-gender friendships show that girls grow in intimacy whether treated or not, but only treated boys show such growth. (SLD)

Conducted single-subject, experimental research to examine efficacy of treating severe, long-term selective mutism in nine-year-old male using shaping, multiple reinforcers, natural consequences, stimulus fading, and mild aversives. Implemented different treatment regimens in home and school environments. Home intervention resulted in increase in…

Wayfinding abilities of 6- and 12-year-old children were compared with those of young adults. Six-year-old children's wayfinding performance was poorest. Twelve-year-old children and adults had similar performances. (GLR)

Examined relationship between self-perception and psychological adjustment among disturbed (n=33) and nondisturbed (n=33) young adolescents. Results indicated that dimensional self-concept scores were significantly lower for disturbed group. No significant differences were found between groups on mathematics, honesty, and physical ability…

Parents who understand the dynamics of adolescent growth and can adopt some sound management strategies stand a better chance of establishing real communication with their youngsters. Schools can help this process by establishing parents' institutes and parents' resource centers on early adolescence. These offer a much-needed alternative to…

Examined the relationship between perspective taking in response to another's distress and prosocial behavior and dispositional affective empathy in late childhood. The tendency to reflect spontaneously on the inner experience of others who are unfortunate was positively related to prosocial behavior in boys and to affective empathy in both sexes.…

Briefly summarizes Vygotsky's life, the appeal and subsequent abandonment of his ideas in the 1960s, and renewal of interest in the 1970s and 1980s (often at the expense of Piaget). Praises van der Veer and Valsinger's book as a realistic picture of Vygotsky's background, life, and work, of the scientific and political context in Russia and of his…