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Relations Between Friendship, Group
Acceptance, and Evaluations of Summer Camp
Hanna, N.A., & Berndt, T.
Journal of Early Adolescence, 15.14
(1981) 456-475
Purpose:
Examine the degree to which friendship and
peer group acceptance are related. To determine
if there are qualities common to both and
if the two peer domains are associated with
the same outcome measurements such as self-esteem,
social competence and school competence.
Sample:
77 children (43 female, 34 male) ages 12-15
years. 74% of the total campers in attendance
participated in the study. Camp was held
for four 1-week sessions. Subjects attending
for more than one session were studied only
for their first session at camp. Camp program
was the same for each 1-week session.
Methods/Instruments:
Pre-test questionnaire measuring: general
expectations about camp, friendship status
including number of times previously attended
camp and whether attended with a friend,
best friend or alone, and best friendships
prior to camp, whether best friend was attending
the camp or not including measurement of
positive and negative aspects of the friendship.
Post-test questionnaires: subjects rated
their group and individual group members
on positive and negative items using a subset
of items found on the first questionnaire
regarding the features of best friendships.
A scale to measure individual group adaptation
and camp evaluation was also included. Counselors
rated individual members of their group
on a six item "social functioning"
scale.
Results:
- No significant correlations between
camp friendship or group acceptance and
evaluations of the camp experience.
- Positive correlation between camp expectations
on pre-test and camp evaluations on post-test.
- Subjects attending camp with a friend,
had more positive expectations and evaluations
of camp than subjects attending camp alone.
- Results support that group acceptance
and friendship, though related, are separate
peer domains.
- No significant correlation between subject
camp friendship antagonism and antagonism
rating given from the group.
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