Abstract
Examined social participation in an experimental program in which 8 preschoolers (mean age 4.1 yrs), 9 kindergartners (mean age 5 yrs), and 6 schoolchildren (mean age 7.2 yrs) were enrolled for 2 mo. The rates at which each S dispensed and received positive and negative social behaviors from peers in each of the 3 age groups were recorded during 10 5-min open instruction periods. Data reveal that in the mixed-age setting, preschoolers showed a preference for kindergartners over preschoolers or schoolchildren, whereas the kindergartners and schoolchildren showed a preference for their own age-mates over non-age-mates. Findings indicate that age rather than sex was the major factor influencing playmate selection, in contrast to findings by J. Goldman (66:11245). It is suggested that age is a major factor influencing playmate selection among children who are more heterogeneous in terms of age, whereas sex may be a major factor influencing choice of playmates among children who are more homogeneous in age. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 828-832 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Developmental psychology |
Volume | 20 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 1984 |
Keywords
- age & sex, social participation & playmate selection, preschool & kindergarten & elementary students in mixed-age experimental program
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Demography
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Life-span and Life-course Studies