Presented at the National Council on Family Relations Annual Meeting, October, 1981, Milwaukee, WI. The creative response of households to boom-town stress is examined, indicating a significant amount of household-initiated future-oriented community building takes place under stress of rapid growth. (Author/JAC)

Comparison of two matched groups of seven students with severe disabilities (placed in either general education classrooms or special education classes) found that students in the general education placement interacted more frequently with nondisabled peers, provided and received more social support, and had larger networks of peers without…

Social lives of 14 children with emotional and behavioral disorders (E/BD) in segregated elementary school classrooms were compared with 14 typical students in general classrooms. Children with E/BD had little opportunity to engage in integrated school activities and their school social networks were dominated by individuals affiliated with…

Presents a conceptual framework and research model for examining the confluence of factors predictive of child maltreatment. The framework consists of an ecological approach which posits child maltreatment as a function of individual, family, social and cultural factors. Hybrid observational cohort-case/control design is the proposed research…

Intensive rotational grazing by Wisconsin dairy farmers represents a local expression of the sustainable agriculture movement. Contrary to interpretations that view local knowledge in agriculture as idiosyncratic, these graziers use horizontal forms of organizing and information exchange to overcome the limits of personal experience and share…

A study investigated effects of participation in freshman interest groups (FIGs) on students' learning experiences. Data were drawn from observation in 12 classes and 43 interviews with 24 students. Results showed FIGs allowed repeated interaction with a consistent set of peers, formation of a social network, and fostered engagement with course…

Describes the attempts of 247 adolescents, classified into sociometric statuses of popular, neglected, rejected, controversial, and average, to handle stressful events by mobilizing social support. Results suggest that sociometric status does not prevent attempts to mobilize support, but status may affect the amount or type of support that helpers…

The minority label can be a barrier to the female African American faculty member's quest for full standing in a research university. To overcome this, they must find and use the best information available to help them, including finding a good mentor, mastering a variety of information sources, and building a strong personal and professional…

Considers existing theories of immigrant entrepreneurship, and studies how the reproduction of ethnicity is associated with the transformation of social relationships in the Korean community in Los Angeles (California). A survey of 60 entrepreneurs shows the ways in which ethnicity becomes a commodity to sell or use. (SLD)

In 1987, the College of Education at Virginia Tech restructured its principal preparation program. Internships are conducted by principal-mentors expected to be teachers, models, and supportive colleagues. The program allows mentors, central office staff, and professors to meet with graduate students in an environment where all are learners. Any…

Two studies examined how adolescents and young adults (ages 15-21) with visual impairments spent their time engaged in academic, social, daily living, and vocational pursuits in comparison to typical youth. Both studies identified socialization and career development as areas where students with visual impairments may need additional supports.…

The methodological sensibility that will lead to the consideration of the new forms of cybersociality is advanced. Cybersociality refers to the new expressions of "being together," sharing emotions, and communicating in networked social environments. Social interactions in the wired city of Blacksburg, Virginia are analyzed and three groups of…

Describes a Newark-based social revitalization program that involves a telecommunications/computer linkage between a community development corporation, an elementary school, and a medical college. The author explains how information technologies are used by the residents of a Newark housing project to create a special sense of neighborliness. (GR)

Describes a group called the Southern Arizona Early Childhood Network, an eclectic collection of leaders invested in the well-being of young children, including directors, child care advocates, health care providers, teacher educators, teachers, and agency personnel. Discusses how the group serves as a forum to share information, experiences,…

Develops a framework for examining how social capital contributes to the well-being of rural communities. Reviews the educational and social science literature on social capital, contrasting rational choice and embeddedness perspectives. Introduces the concept of entrepreneurial social infrastructure, which adds equality, inclusion, and agency to…