Observational validation of a peer nomination technique for identifying aggressive, withdrawn, and aggressive/withdrawn children.

Membership in peer-identified aggressive, withdrawn, or aggressive and withdrawn groups and in a nondeviant contrast group was predicted based on quantitative observations of playground behavior. Subjects were selected from a pool of 174 fifth and sixth graders who had completed the Pupil Evaluation Inventory. Of 43 selected aggressive, withdrawn, aggressive and withdrawn, and contrast subjects, 65% were correctly classified, based on their behavior on the playground. These results confirm the ability of peers to identify children who show specific patterns of atypical social interaction. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)