Joseph A. Durlak

Evaluation of Social Competence Training in the Schools.

Abstract A social competence program for high risk children is described and evaluated in this paper. Advanced undergraduates majoring in psychology used interpersonal problem-solving techniques to work with 32 maladapting first through third graders who were seen on a small group basis. The intervention program was conducted for 14 weeks. Compared to a control group of 32 children, results indicated that children in the program made siginficantly greater gains in classroom adjustment as rated by teachers. Additionally, socimetric status served as a criterion for evaluating program effectiveness. Results demonstrated that children who participated in the social competence training made significantly greater gains in peer acceptance as measured by a brief sociometric questionnaire than the controls. The implications of these findings and the methodological limitations of the study are discussed.

Comparison Between Experiential and Didactic Methods of Death Education.

This research examined the impact of a death and dying workshop on individual attitudes toward life and death. The workshop was a voluntary eight-hour, small group experience conducted for heterogeneous hospital staff of a large southeastern medical center. Pre-post questionnaire data were collected from two groups of workshop participants and a matched control group. One of the workshop groups (didactic group) participated in an educational program emphasizing lecture presentations and small group discussion. In contrast, the second workshop group (experiential) confronted, examined, and shared their own feelings and reactions to grief and death. Role playing and death awareness and grief exercises were used for this purpose. Data indicated that the experiential group showed a significant reduction in fear of death as a result of the workshop, whereas both the didactic and control groups changed negatively over time. Results support the view that an emotional, personal approach to death is an important element in an effective death educational program.

The Social Skills Development Program: Description of a school-based preventive mental health program for high-risk children.

Abstract The Social Skills Development Program, a school‐based prevention‐oriented mental health program for high risk children, is described. The program seeks to develop childrens social skills using behavioral or relationship therapeutic strategies in combination with a unique series of small group activities. Techniques to identify and select children at high risk for later serious school maladjustment and the group activities and exercises used in the program are described in detail. This information on the operation of the program is offered for the benefit of other investigators who may wish to incorporate or modify various program procedures for application‐in other settings.

Assessment of paraprofessionals' on-the-job performance in an outpatient child guidance clinic

On-the-job performance of paraprofessional and professional staff of an outpatient child guidance clinic were compared in three respects: (a) ability to do intake interviewing, (b) maintain case records, and (c) collect research data for a therapy outcome study. Data indicated that paraprofessionals performed as well as professionals on each job activity, and suggest generally that paraprofessionals can adequately perform the various tasks assigned to them.