Discusses the relationship between cultural context and the instructional design of interactive multimedia and argues for multiple cultural, rather than multicultural, contextualization of instructional design. Topics include world views; values, ideologies, culture, class and gender; objectivism; constructivism; deracialization; learning theory;…

Examines the social parameters of acceptance and spread of intervocalic spirantization of "/p/,/t/,/k/" in Tuscany to test the salience of gender and class. This sociolinguistic analysis of the interaction of three options provides a more precise understanding of the significance of gender and class as (co)-conditioners of variation and…

This study investigated mother-child dyads of differing social status engaged in fantasy play (children were age 54 to 80 months). Contrary to expectations, high-status dyads did not produce more or more complex utterances during fantasy play than low-status dyads. Low-status dyads were characterized by more negative affect and child behavior…

Examined fourth and fifth graders' reactions to completing group-administered, positive and negative peer nomination techniques. Found that no child reported having hurt feelings or knowing of anyone else having hurt feelings. Determined that the condition of minimal risk of harm, harm not greater than children might encounter in daily life, was…

Studied peer acceptance, social status, and social reputation in children attending mixed-age programs. Found that younger children were less well-accepted and more likely to be nominated by peers as shy, while gender (but not age) affected aggressiveness. Also found that at the primary level, girls were more likely to be nominated as shy. (EV)

Tested the hypothesis that the instructions that mothers of popular, rejected, and neglected children gave regarding entry into group play would parallel their children's known group-entry behavior. Hypotheses were substantially supported for mothers of popular children, moderately supported for mothers of neglected children, and less supported…

A large national data set was used to assess the causal influence of college selectivity on earnings after controlling for a variety of background variables. Using a recursive structural equation model, it was found that for both genders selectivity had a significant direct and indirect effect on earnings. (Author/MLW)

Sixteen young adults with autism participated in a social skills group for several years and were asked to complete a sociogram and a questionnaire. Results are analyzed in terms of relationship between leaders' and group members' ratings, relationship between popularity and personal attributes, and sex and group differences. (Author/JDD)

Examines cultural assimilation in a Mexican and Chicano community in Santa Paula, California. Argues that the assumption of Anglo-Saxon superiority ascribed inferior social positions to Mexican-origin groups and generated conflict among these groups at times, but promoted intergroup unity when social conditions became intolerable. Contains 39…

Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to explore the "social stigma of giftedness" as reported by 51 high school juniors enrolled in the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities. Results are analyzed in terms of self-perceptions, academic perceptions, social interactions, in-group/out-group perceptions, and…

This study of third-grade and fourth-grade children with (n=59) and without (n=57) learning disabilities found that LD students perceived themselves as less competent in the areas of intelligence, academic skills, behavior, and social acceptance. Contrary to expectations, subjects' self-perceptions were not affected by the choice of LD or general…

Deals with the development of children's understanding of social class. Presents results of a study of English 6 to 11 year olds' answers to questions concerning wealth, poverty, and social class inequality. Determines that older children could benefit directly from teaching about social class inequality. Finds more indirect methods necessary…

The influence of self-esteem on the use of status considerations as determinants of interpersonal acceptance was studied for 356 male and 366 female Israeli junior high school students. Results suggest that individuals with high self-esteem may be more likely to see themselves as equals to higher status others. (SLD)

Describes multidimensional scaling (MDS) as a useful technique for investigating school-psychology research questions by illustrating the MDS application in constructing cognitive maps of subjects' cultural-difference judgments. Discusses implications for the theory of cultural-difference perceptions, as well as applications to school-psychology…

Explains that the Trivers-Willard hypothesis says that high-status parents favor sons over daughters while low-status parents favor daughters over sons. Examines whether the Trivers-Willard hypothesis is warranted by testing whether its predictions hold true among parents of adolescents in the United States. Finds little evidence to support the…