Investigates the relationship between name-calling and peer beliefs and how it is associated with students' grade level. Analysis of 48 second graders' and 70 sixth graders' responses suggests that name-calling frequency declined with age. However, the more names children reported having been called in the past, the more negative their beliefs…

A study of peer and social influences on the political orientation of undergraduate students, using data from the Cooperative Institution Research Program, suggests that student political orientations consistently tend toward the institutional norm, whether liberal or conservative, regardless of social era in which students attend college. This…

Surveyed parents regarding their perceived needs in preventing their adolescents from engaging in substance use. The main needs were in learning how to teach their children to resist peer pressure to use substances and to communicate effectively with them concerning substance use. The most common resources parents used to obtain information were…

A biopsychosocial model of the development of adolescent chronic conduct problems is presented and supported through a review of empirical findings. The model posits that biological dispositions and sociocultural contexts place certain children at risk in early life but that life experiences with parents, peers, and social institutions increment…

Explains that extensive reading (ER) programs involve students in silently reading large quantities of materials. Discusses the possible benefits of adding a group element to second language ER. Presents cooperative learning principles that can facilitate effective group interaction to accompany ER. Provides examples of activities that blend…

This study used a sample of 2,379 seventh through twelfth graders in 5 Protestant denominations to test the hypothesis that parental influences on religious faith are mediated through peer selection and congregation selection. Findings revealed that peer and parental influence remained stable during the adolescent years. Parental influence did not…

Assessed the effects of youth and parent factors on school functioning among 70 black 8th graders. Student, parent, and teacher surveys indicated that hostile control positively related to delinquency symptoms; achievement control negatively related to academic performance; negative peer behavior positively related to aggression and delinquency…

Offers 10 annotated references on the topic of peer mentorship in community colleges. Describes peer mentorship programs as an effective way to promote academic and transfer success and assist underrepresented and developmental students. Provides citations of research on peer mentorship and effective programs that may be implemented at two-year…

Describes a self-awareness program designed to educate students about challenging situations that may be encountered when working in teams, and to provide concrete methods for changing a typical student's response in order to deal more effectively with these situations. Handout appended. (Contains eight references.) (AUTH/NB)

Questionnaires were administered to 4,157 junior high school students to determine levels of alcohol misuse, exposure to peer use and misuse of alcohol, susceptibility to peer pressure, internal health locus of control, and self-esteem. Conceptual model of antecendents of adolescent alcohol misuse and effectiveness of a prevention effort was…

Describes ways in which young children persuade their peers during play. Also discusses ways in which preschool teachers can help children learn the skills of persuasion and help them make and keep friends. (BB)

Children growing up today face unprecedented perils and problems, and for many children the world frequently seems to be an unpredictable place. Pressures on children come from a variety of sources, such as family, peer relationships, and changes in society. (JD)

Assesses the compliance-resisting strategies children use when rejecting pressure to smoke. Finds that strategies vary with conditions such as relationship, number of people present, amount of pressure, and risk for future smoking. Suggests that researchers consider situational variations and risk status for future smoking when developing…

A large-scale longitudinal study of the progress of elementary school students, focusing on effects of school membership upon cognitive outcomes, attainment in verbal abilities, and noncognitive outcomes such as attendance, attitudes, behavior, and self-concept, found that school membership is far more influential in these areas than are…

Presents the results of observation and interview studies of sibling caretaking and peer assistance in Native Hawaiian contexts, and compares these activities in natal and school activity settings. Classrooms should be accommodated to selected features of natal culture activity settings. (Author/BJV)