Observations Adult report. Child reports Sociograms- these plot the relationships between people.

According to Coie et al... Rejected- liked most often by many and liked least by few. Neglected- liked most often by few and liked least by many. Controversial- liked most often by many and liked least by many. Average- average.

Aim: to investigate the way in which children joined in play with others and the way that this was related to their popularity. Observations were made of the way that children with different levels of popularity joined a game being played by two other children- observations of five year olds in a playground. Results showed that popular children tended to observe what was going on and then joined in by making positive statements about the group; rejected were more likely to interrupt play and neglected were more likely to simply watch.

Showed that rejected and neglected did not produce socially appropriate behaviour and this explains why other children rejected and neglected them. To evaluate.. Observation studies are very important in helping describe behaviour. However this study does not provide enough info on cause and effect.

Popular children had high levels of cooperative play and little aggression. They had lots of interaction and a positive disposition. Rejected children had little cooperative play and were very argumentative/anti-social. They had much solitary play and were often talkative. Neglected children had lots of solitary play, were rarely aggressive and were often shy or unassertive. This research suggests that the characteristics of children influence how they are linked by their peers. In particular, aggressive behaviour results in unpopularity.

School/academic issues. Internalising problems such as depression and externalising problems such as aggression and truancy.

They reviewed findings about peer relations and later personal adjustment. Concluded that children who have difficulties with peers (often those who are rejected) are at risk from later life difficulties. Found that those who were not accepted by peers and were also aggressive had a particular risk of criminality. Failed to find consistent evidence for children who are not accepted by peers and are shy/withdrawn and their later negative outcomes.

Causal model: Deviant behaviour Law peer acceptance Deviant socialisation Maladjustment outcomes Incidental model: Underlying Deviant behaviour Maladaptive outcomes Law peer acceptance

To investigate the characteristics of rejected children when they are older. 112 children in USA- their popularity was assessed at 11 and problems at 18. Found that when rejected at 11: 15% were suspended from school and a 1/3 were in contact with police. None of those classed as popular or neglected were suspended from school. In a whole sample: found aggression was the best prediction of later problems. Sub sample: both aggression and rejection can predict later problems.

These models suggest that there are direct causal connections such as aggressive behaviours causing low peer acceptance and can cause peer rejection.

This model is not applicable to all individuals.

Shows that the rejected children’s difficulties are because they are not part of the school culture and do not support its values. With increasing age- Psychological considerations become a more important role in relation to rejection. It is difficult to carry out experimental studies and answers from interviews may not actually correspond with what children actually do because young children may have difficulty expressing their ideas.