Two samples of parents and one of teachers were interviewed to determine (1) what parents of early adolescents believe about adolescence as a developmental period and what they expect for their own adolescents' development; (2) junior high school teachers' beliefs about adolescent development; (3) evidence for the effects of personal experience with adolescents on such beliefs; (4) how beliefs about adolescence as a developmental period affect parents' interpretation of their own child's behavior after the transition to junior high school; and (5) the relation between the latter and expectations for change parents held before their child's school transition. Results indicated that parents believed that early adolescence is a difficult time and that teachers and other adults can do much that has an influence on the adolescent. Parents also believed that children entering junior high school/adolescence will take on more responsiblity than previously, and become more concerned with appearance, social activities, and the opposite sex than they had before. Few parents endorsed statements about the child becoming increasingly clumsy or less interested in school during these transitions. Also reported are results of an analysis linking parental beliefs to child adaptation measures, and a comparison of parent beliefs with those of junior high school teachers. The study data is displayed in seven tables and five bar graphs which form the focus of the text. (Author/RH)