A model based on the immigrant's experience is proposed to explain the social and psychological dimensions of the student's transition from high school to college. The freshman-year experience is viewed as a process of resocialization to a new cultural environment involving culture shock, new language learning, and internalization of academic,…

An ethnographic case study focuses on the pragmatics of higher-stakes social communications. Illustrates how, through exposure to social interactions and assistance from more competent peers, an immigrant woman came to internalize target language and cultural norms and develop communicative competence in English as a Second Language in the…

This study examined the experiences of secondary rural school students, teachers, and administrators to determine their perspectives on distance education. Discusses results of interviews, naturalistic observations, and document analysis that showed the importance of teacher characteristics; problems with a lack of socialization; and problems with…

Surveys a national sample of new faculty members in communication departments to identify features of organizational socialization. Examines perceptions of socialization for the job interview and the orientation activities. Finds that amount of time spent in orientation activities is the best predictor of satisfaction upon arrival. (SR)

Four preschool children who exhibited aggressive methods for resolving social interaction conflicts were taught a problem-solving strategy. Results found that acquisition of the problem-solving strategy influenced the types of alternative solutions the children provided to social interaction conflicts. Students produced more prosocial resolutions…

A study explored the patterns of friendship among 14 teenagers with Down syndrome attending mainstream schools or resourced provision in mainstream schools. Students had very firm notions about the nature of friendship; however the friendship they envisaged did not always materialize due in part to geographical, practical, and safety concerns.…

A commentary precedes this reprint of a study that investigated the academic, psychological, and socialization effects of ability grouping on gifted learners. Conclusions drawn from 13 research syntheses supported sustained periods of instruction in like-ability groups for gifted students. The commentary discusses the research findings and…

Simplicity study circles examine how the American preoccupation with affluence destroys individual lives, community, and the environment. Through sharing personal stories, people learn to listen and trust their own judgment. Cooperative discussions about specific problems and their causes and solutions stimulate concern for the common good, which,…

Studied the socializing effects of cohort grouping on elementary teacher candidates participating in a curriculum with a collaborative, thematic approach to teacher education. Independently of cohort membership, small class size and the collaborative thematic approach produced a strong socializing effect, but belonging to a cohort resulted in…

Older siblings' contributions to younger siblings' competence net of parenting processes were examined with 152 pairs of first-born (M=11.7 years) and second-born (M=9.2 years) siblings in rural, single-parent African American families. Structural equation modeling indicated that parenting was linked with older siblings' competence, which in turn…

Recognizing that their activities and programs are highly effective alternative learning models, camps are accepting a greater role in year-round education and youth development. Camps can reinvigorate their businesses, and schools can benefit from the power of outdoor, experiential learning. Advice includes explaining camp benefits in terms…

This case study recorded and analyzed, during a primary prevention program in an urban day care center, the process of emotional socialization in two 4-year-old children considered at risk for academic failure. It isolated and described influential factors in emotional socialization, described changes in social skills and emotional expression, and…

A review of 36 studies on school-age children with mental retardation indicated children in general classes do not attain social acceptance ratings at as high a level as do their typical peers. Integrated students perform better than segregated students on measures of academic achievement and social competence. (Contains extensive references.)…

Examines research on sex differences in expectations regarding compliance-related behaviors and the resulting implications for early childhood practice. Identifies sex differences in problem-solving competence and the possible contribution of sex differences in compliance to and dependence on adults. Presents strategies to help preschoolers learn…

Reviews the literature on mentoring and the role of organizational socialization, then presents highlights from the Puente Project, a California community college program, as an exemplary model that addresses the needs of first-generation Latino college students from a cultural context. The paper discusses program successes and notes implications…