ERIC Number: ED255330
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1984-Aug
Pages: 6
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Sex Differences in Aggressive and Withdrawn Behavior on the Playground.
Lyons, Judith A.; And Others
An exception to most observational studies examining sex differences is Ladd's (1983) study of popular, average, and rejected children, which reported sex differences within as well as across groups. Like Ladd's research, the present study looks at sex differences within and across subsamples of boys and girls, comparing the playground behavior of peer-identified aggressive, withdrawn, aggressive-withdrawn, and contrast group children. Special attention is given to sex differences within the aggressive-withdrawn group since it is hypothesized that this group may resemble Ladd's rejected group. Subjects were 117 students from grades 4 through 6 at two French-speaking elementary schools in Montreal, Canada. After group assignments were determined by scores on the Pupil Evaluation Inventory, each subject's playground behavior was videotaped. Tapes were scored by observers using a specially developed code focusing on extent of sociality in play, sex of peer with whom interactions took place, frequencies of aggressive/mock aggressive acts, and motor level. Some expected sex differences were found across groups. Contrary to expectations, boys did not spend more time than girls in a group of peers, nor did they spend significantly more time in play. Predictions regarding sex differences within groups were not supported. Unexpectedly, sex difference in aggression was more than twice as prominent among contrast group subjects than among aggressive children. (RH)
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada (Montreal)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A