Evaluating a School Primary Prevention Program.

ABSTRACT Peer tutoring programs represent ailnnovative approach for optimally utilizing 'resources existing iithin classrooms. While most tutoring programs are aimed at helping tutees ..ot tutors with academic difficulties, this study involved all children in two classrooms in a peer tutoring project, A Multiple baseline design indicated that prompting was effeCtive in establishing tutoring.behaviors among the children. Byl,the end of the; program, children Were using cprrective 'feedback, to-presenting questions, and employing,contifigent praise.:Positive_findings were found in academice_behavioral, and-consumer satisfaction indices. AlSo evaluated --were two interventions direOted a-t enhancing social skills in groups of first and.third grade children; Triads were taught one of, four social skills -touching, asking questions', sharing or praising through a behavioral intervention consisting of .instructions-modeling7-behaviotal-rehearsal, feedback and reinforcement. While'increases in social .behaviors were noted, follow-up indicated substantial: erosion "in gains. In the-ecological "intervention,:, dramatic increases in'sharing/were noted for. an isolate child 'after he was placedin a group whose members 'displayed highlevels of-sharingq Comparisons were. made of the differential 'effectiveness of_behavioral.'versus ecological approaches .in .establishing and iaiittaining.behaviors. (Author) :