Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Teachers’ Peer Buddy Selections for Children with Autism: Social Characteristics and Relationship with Peer Nominations

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We examined social and behavioral characteristics of children selected by their teachers to serve as peer buddies for a child with autism. Thirty-one general education teachers and 576 children from five public elementary schools completed social status, behavioral, and peer buddy nomination measures. When compared to non-selected students, teacher selected buddies were: (a) more often boys, (b) popular, and (c) viewed as prosocial leaders by their peers. Agreement between teacher and peer nominations of social status and behavioral characteristics ranged from low to high; agreement between teacher and peer selected buddies was moderate.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bass, J. D., & Mulick, J. A. (2007). Social play skill enhancement of children with autism using peers and siblings as therapists. Psychology in the Schools, 44, 727–735. doi:10.1002/pits.20261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, J. M., Ferguson, J. E., Herzinger, C. V., Jackson, J. N., & Marino, C. A. (2004). Combined descriptive and explanatory information improves peers’ perceptions of autism. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 25, 321–339. doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2004.01.005.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carter, E. W., Hughes, C., Guth, C. B., & Copeland, S. R. (2005). Factors influencing social interaction among high school students with intellectual disabilities and their general education peers. American Journal of Mental Retardation, 110, 366–377. doi:10.1352/0895-8017(2005)110[366:FISIAH]2.0.CO;2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coie, J. D., & Dodge, K. A. (1983). Continuities and changes in children’s social status: A five-year longitudinal study. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 29, 261–282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coie, J. D., Dodge, K. A., & Coppotelli, H. (1982). Dimensions and types of social status: A cross-age perspective. Developmental Psychology, 18, 557–570. doi:10.1037/0012-1649.18.4.557.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DiSalvo, C. A., & Oswald, D. P. (2002). Peer-mediated interventions to increase the social interaction of children with autism: Consideration of peer expectancies. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 17, 198–207. doi:10.1177/10883576020170040201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gifford-Smith, M. E., & Brownell, C. A. (2003). Childhood peer relationships: Social acceptance, friendships, and peer networks. Journal of School Psychology, 41, 235–284. doi:10.1016/S0022-4405(03)00048-7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hill, D. K., & Merrell, K. W. (2004). Characteristics of “controversial” children: An exploration of teacher and parents social behavior rating scale datasets. Psychology in the Schools, 41, 497–507. doi:10.1002/pits.10175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huesmann, L. R., Eron, L. D., Guerra, N. G., & Crawshaw, V. B. (1994). Measuring children’s aggression with teachers’ predictions of peer nominations. Psychological Assessment, 6, 329–336. doi:10.1037/1040-3590.6.4.329.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ladd, G. W., & Profilet, S. M. (1996). The child behavior scale: A teacher-report measure of young children’s aggressive, withdrawn, and prosocial behaviors. Developmental Psychology, 32, 1008–1024. doi:10.1037/0012-1649.32.6.1008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laushey, K. M., & Heflin, J. (2000). Enhancing social skills of kindergarten children with autism through the training of multiple peers as tutors. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30, 183–193. doi:10.1023/A:1005558101038.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lease, A. M., Kennedy, C. A., & Axelrod, J. L. (2002). Children’s social constructions of popularity. Social Development, 11, 87–109. doi:10.1111/1467-9507.00188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masten, A. S., Morison, P., & Pellegrini, D. S. (1985). A revised class play method of peer assessment. Developmental Psychology, 21, 523–533. doi:10.1037/0012-1649.21.3.523.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, S. B., Walker, M., Bieberich, A., & Bell, S. (1996). The shared activities questionnaire. Unpublished manuscript, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN

  • Newman, R. S., & Murray, B. J. (2005). How students and teachers view the seriousness of peer harassment: When is it appropriate to seek help? Journal of Educational Psychology, 97, 347–365. doi:10.1037/0022-0663.97.3.347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parkhurst, J. T., & Hopmeyer, A. (1998). Sociometric popularity and peer-perceived popularity: Two distinct dimensions of peer status. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 18, 125–144. doi:10.1177/0272431698018002001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Renk, K., & Phares, V. (2004). Cross-informant ratings of social competence in children and adolescents. Clinical Psychology Review, 24, 239–254. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2004.01.004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, C. M., & Lindsell, J. S. (1997). Children’s attitudes and behavioral intentions towards peers with disabilities. International Journal of Disability Development and Education, 44, 133–145. doi:10.1080/0156655970440205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodkin, P. C., & Hodges, E. V. E. (2003). Bullies and victims in the peer ecology: Four questions for psychologists and school professionals. School Psychology Review, 32, 384–400.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sasso, G. M., & Rude, H. A. (1987). Unprogrammed effects of training high-status peers to interact with severely handicapped children. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 20, 35–44. doi:10.1901/jaba.1987.20-35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Siperstein, G. N., & Bak, J. (1977). Instruments to measure children’s attitudes toward the handicapped: Adjective checklist and activity preference list. Unpublished manuscript, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA

  • Swaim, K. F., & Morgan, S. B. (2001). Children’s attitudes and behavioral intentions toward a peer with autistic behaviors: Does a brief educational intervention have an effect? Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31, 195–205. doi:10.1023/A:1010703316365.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vasa, S. F., Maag, J. W., Torrey, G. K., & Kramer, J. J. (1994). Teachers’ use and perceptions of sociometric techniques. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 12, 135–141. doi:10.1177/073428299401200203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of Drs. Stephen Olejnik and Michele Lease who helped with creating measures and analyzing data. The paper is based upon the first author’s doctoral dissertation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Educational Psychology and Instructional Technology, University of Georgia, 325-J Aderhold Hall, Athens, GA, 30602-7143, USA

    Jennie N. Jackson & Jonathan M. Campbell

Authors
  1. Jennie N. Jackson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jonathan M. Campbell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jonathan M. Campbell.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jackson, J.N., Campbell, J.M. Teachers’ Peer Buddy Selections for Children with Autism: Social Characteristics and Relationship with Peer Nominations. J Autism Dev Disord 39, 269–277 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0623-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0623-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation