The study described in this article sought to examine the workings of an interdisciplinary team as a research entity and as a service provider. There were two levels of analysis in the study: the process of collaborating on the research and the results of the research observation of an interdisciplinary team in a clinical setting. An interdisciplinary research team studied the interaction of a single clinical team over a 6-month period working with one child in a hospital-based early intervention program. The data were collected through intensive interviews, direct observations of the family and team members, and selected videotaping of team meetings. Qualitative data analysis methods were used, and five themes emerged: who takes the lead, the classroom as a way station, we like our freedom but..., who is giving and who is taking advice, and communication comes in few forms.

The relation of familial and school-based risk factors to socioemotional and learning problems was studied in a sample of Hispanic children in Head Start programs. Socioemotional problems were found to relate most strongly to school-based solitary play, negative peer interaction, and maternal reports of child temperament, while associated learning problems related most strongly to school-based attention span. Significant gender interaction was also identified. Results support use of a culturally sensitive ecological model for assessing child behavior and hold implications for further research.

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Paraprofessional programs in a metropolitan school system were studied to test a theory about factors related to successful implementation of organizational innovations. Indices of variables were constructed from items on two questionnaires administered to a stratified random sample of paraprofessionals, teachers, and administrators. The analysis confirmed the model, showing that paraprofessional clarity, willingness, ability, resources, and school compatibility, in the aggregate, were predictive of differences in the implementation of the programs.

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