Pairs of learning disabled and nondisabled junior high students were observed in their regular classrooms using a continuous recording system. A number of social behaviors and socially related characteristics were observed in the target students and in the teachers and peers with whom they interacted. Results show that LD adolescents do not appear to be social isolates in the classroom. They speak as often to peers and to as many different peers as the non-LD students. The differences between the two groups appear to lie in the areas of attending to the teacher when the teacher is making statements to the class and socially related appearance factors (e.g., grooming, physical attractiveness, etc.).
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Bruinicks, V.L.Actual and perceived peer status of learning disabled students in mainstream programs. The Journal of Special Education, 1978, 12, 51–58.
2.
Bryan, T.Peer popularity of learning disabled children. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 1974, 7, 621–625. (a)
3.
Bryan, T.An observational analysis of classroom behaviors of children with learning disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities., 1974, 7, 26–34. (b)
4.
Bryan, T.Peer popularity in learning disabled children. Journal of Learning Disabilities., 1976, 5, 307–311.
5.
Bryan, T.H.Verbal interactions and social relationships of learning disabled children in the classroom. Journal of Learning Disabilities., 1978, 11, 107–115.
6.
Bryan, T.H., & Perlmutter, B.Immediate impressions of LD children by female adults. Learning Disability Quarterly., 1979, 2, 80–88.
7.
Bryan, T., & Pflaum, S.Social interactions of learning disabled children: A linguistic, social, and cognitive analysis. Learning Disability Quarterly, 1978, 1, 70–79.
8.
Bryan, T., & Wheeler, R.Perception of learning disabled children: The eye of the observer. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 1972, 5, 199–206.
9.
Bryan, T., Wheeler, R., Felcan, J., & Henek, T.An observational study of children's, communications. Journal of Learning Disabilities., 1976, 9, 661–669.
10.
Deshler, D.D.Psycho-social characteristics of learning disabled adolescents. In L. Goodman. L. Mann, & L. Wiederholt (Eds.), Teaching the Learning Disabled Adolescent. Boston. Mass.: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1978.
11.
Moran, M.R.An Investigation of the Demands on Oral Language Skills of Learning Disabled Students in Secondary Classrooms (Research Report #1). Lawrence. Kan.: The University of Kansas Institute for Research in Learning Disabilities. 1980.
12.
Skrtic, T.M.The Regular Classroom Interactions of Learning Disabled Adolescents and Their Teachers (Research Report #8). Lawrence, Kan.: The University of Kansas Institute for Research in Learning Disabilities, 1980.
13.
Wilcox, E.Identifying characteristics of NH adolescents. In L. E. Anderson (Ed), Helping the Adolescent with the Hidden Handicap. Belmont. Calif.: Fearon. 1970.
