Effects of Cooperative,Competitive,and Individualistic Learning Experiences on Social Development

Abstract

A comparison was made of the effects of cooperative, competitive, and individualistic learning experiences on relationships between handicapped and nonhandicapped students and their self-esteem and perspective-taking ability. Fifty-nine students were assigned to conditions on a stratified random basis controlling for handicap, ability, and sex. Students participated in two instructional units for 60 minutes a day for 15 instructional days. Behavioral measures were taken for cross-handicap interaction during instruction and during daily free-time periods. The results indicate that cooperative learning experiences, compared with competitive and individualistic ones, promote more interpersonal attraction between handicapped and nonhandicapped students and promote higher self-esteem on the part of all students. Cooperation promoted greater perspective-taking ability than did competition.

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