Describe and Discuss Psychological research relating to development in Peer Relationships.

When children enter school their contact with other children increases. The proportion of social activities that occurs in interaction with peers (as opposed to other contacts) continues to increase throughout childhood. By age 11, 50% of the individual's social activity occurs with peers (Hartup, 1983). By adolescence, time spent interacting with peers exceeds time spent interacting with the parent or any other socialization agent (Larson & Richards, 1991). This essay will begin by defining the word peers, before …

…also has its weaknesses. The participants are still of a young age and if the interviewing method is used the participant may lie and therefore the results may not be valid. On the whole however the observational method appear to be the most effective way of researching peer relationships, in most cases the observer argues that the children were comfortable being observed and were acting naturally, which is why therapists tend to use this method.