Working with three groups of mildly to severely mentally retarded children in counseling sessions, it was found that the ease with which groups develop and work productively is dependent upon the social-emotional makeup of their members more than upon their mental retardation. Recommendations for public school counseling are presented. (Author/PN)

Evaluated whether children view relationally manipulative behaviors as "aggressive." In study one, relational aggression was the most frequently cited angry behavior for girls' interactions; physical aggression was most frequently cited for boys. In study two, relational aggression and verbal insults were the most frequently cited harmful…

Presents two case vignettes that pose issues of concern for suicide postvention, with particular relevance to the development of school-based crisis intervention response programs. Two commentaries follow the vignettes. (Author/NB)

Compared significant others of Black adolescents (N=113) ages 10-14. Found differences between males and females and developmental differences between older (12-14) and younger (10-11) subjects. Found mother to be most significant other for males and females and both age groups. (Author/ABL)

Analyzed changes in parent-child relationship from data collected from mothers, fathers, and oldest children in 110 families whose oldest child was 11, 14, or 17. Results provide insight into expectations and processes involved in revising the quality of parent-child relationships during early adolescence. Socialization for independence during…

A study was conducted to isolate monitoring of test performance from other forms of monitoring and determine the effect of taking a test on expectations about performance. Results were consistent with claims that developmental changes in self-regulation could be tied to developmental changes in monitoring of performance and predicting performance.…

Investigated children's reports of experiences of simultaneous different-valence emotions and examined whether such reports included indications of internal conflict or ambivalence. (PCB)

Investigates factors of social influence strategies employed by 195 children aged 11-15 and 114 mothers. Girls reported more frequent use and success of strategies anticipating noncompliance and boys more frequent use and success of autonomous strategies. Mothers reported differential reinforcement of boys' and girls' strategies. (RJC)

Administered Francis scale of attitude towards Christianity and the Junior Eysenck Personality Questionnaire to 3,228 11- to 16-year-olds. Found positive relationship between religiosity and lie scale scores. Examined relationship in light of three theories that religious people are less mature, more socially conforming, or simply bigger liars.…

Assessed sex differences in performance on the subtests of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children using more than 2,500 children ages 2-1/2 to 12-1/2 years old. Results confirmed previous research with female superiority on short-term memory tasks and male superiority on spatial-visualization skills. (Author/ABL)

Investigates back channel listener responses (i.e. umhums, headnods) in children (7.5 to 11.9 years). Considers such responses to be among the last conversational skills acquired. Reports that back channel responses significantly increased with age, attributable to better understanding of the listener role of providing collaborative feedback. (JAD)

Applied drill and practice intervention in small-group (n=5) setting to improve fifth-grade students' fluency with basic mathematics facts. Cover, Copy, and Compare intervention was modified and implemented with Chapter I mathematics class. Results provide practitioners with ideas about implementing group interventions using drill for mathematics…

Reviews the Intimate Friendship Scale based on 16 studies relevant to children and preadolescents. Presents the conceptual background of the test. Addresses questions regarding the scale and suggests directions for future research. (DR)

Describes investigation systematically comparing influence of naturalistic social behaviors and nonbehavioral variables, measured by live observations, on development of peer status in unfamiliar boys attending summer research program. Participants included attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and comparison boys. Discusses implications for…

Gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES) were related to career aspirations of 8- to 11-year olds (n=80). Grade, ability, and achievement levels were not related. African Americans had higher aspirations; 60% of males chose jobs requiring only high school, 74% of females chose jobs requiring college education. (SK)