Children's social development with a focus on the conceptualization and assessment of relational competence and relational outcomes in childhood.
This focus includes:
(1) studies of social cognition, especially the goals children pursue in response to interpersonal conflict and other challenging social tasks;
(2) studies of peer acceptance, friendship participation, and friendship quality as distinct dimensions of peer adjustment and as unique contributors to emotional well-being versus loneliness;
(3) continuing interest in the effects of relational skills interventions on children's acceptance and friendship;
(4) studies of children's social relationships in racially desegregated contexts and in educational settings that integrate regular education students with students receiving special education services.
