A note on the effects of age and gender on children's social behaviour

Observations of 40 3-4-year-olds' social behaviour in dyadic play show that total social behaviour towards opposite gender partners increases across this age range, while remaining constant for same gender partners. This finding partially replicates the results of an earlier study (Lloyd & Smith, 1986). In addition, analyses of three subcategories of social behaviour (prosocial, assertive and withdrawal) also yield partial replications. It is suggested that variations in procedure may account for differences between the two studies.