A Study of the Friendship Fluctuations of Urban Boys and Girls

A Study of the Friendship Fluctuations of Preadolescents

“…Since the procedures and techniques used in the present study were identical with those used by Thompson and Horrocks (2) in their study of friendship fluctuations among urban adolescents, it is possible, to some extent, to compare the friendship stability of urban youth at the various age levels included in these two studies. However, it should be noted that there are differences in the school samples included in these two studies.…”

The Features and Effects of Friendship in Early Adolescence

“…Without evidence on the variability in rates of development at different ages, specific hypotheses about age changes in stability cannot be stated. Stability in existing friendships.-The earliest studies of stability in friendships were done by Horrocks and his colleagues (e.g., Thompson & Horrocks 1947; see also Hartup, in press). In these studies, children and adolescents were asked to name their three best friends on two occasions about 2 weeks apart.…”

The Stability of Social Groups in Childhood and Adolescence: The Role of the Classroom Social Environment.

“…The first issue concerns the importance of using longitudinal methods to track the pattern of change in social relationships over time. Longitudinal studies have indicated that friendships and peer groups experience considerable fluctuations over time (e.g., Berndt & Hoyle, 1985;Bukowski ifeNewcomb, 1984;Caims, Leung, Buchanan & Caims, 1995;Cohen, 1977;Hallinan, 1980;Hallinan «feTuma, 1978;Horrocks & Buker, 1951;Thompson & Horrocks, 1947). There is little agreement over the most appropriate methods for the identification and longitudinal tracking of peer relationships which makes it difficult to summarize across studies.…”