Sociogram
From WikEd
[edit] Sociograms
- Description/Definitions
Sociograms are the charts or tools used to find the Sociometry of a social space, especially in the classroom environment they are a useful tool. MJB
A sociogram, also known as a friendship chart, is a diagram that allows the teacher to analyze the social makeup of the class (Wolfgang 116). A sociogram is constructed after students answer a series of questions that illustrate the students’ preferences about classmates. A sociogram is an important tool in the Social Discipline Model that allows a teacher to provide misbehaving students opportunities for social acceptance. As a result, the misbehavior will no longer occur (Wolfgang 116).
- Applications
A sociogram is a teacher-made device that is used to provide additional information regarding a student and how he/she interacts with peers. It is a valuable tool for determining how a student is viewed by his/her classmates. Students respond to a teacher-provided direction such as "List the two classmates with whom you would most like to sit", "Write the name of the person with whom you would enjoy working on a project.", "If you were going on a vacation, which of your classmates would be nice to have along, and why?"
You might also assess interaction and social perceptions using negatively worded statements or questions such as "Who would you not want to play with during recess?" (Although this variation has been shown to have no long term effects in preschoolers, it would probably result in hurt feelings for older kids.)
The results are then tabulated to determine how many times each student was chosen and by whom. This information is graphically plotted to identify social isolates, popular students, disliked youngsters, and changes in interaction patterns over time. The sociogram can be useful in a number of ways: Allowing a student to work with a chosen peer may be a motivational tool. Social isolates (those not selected by others) could be placed in interaction situations with accepting peers or could be made the center of attention in positions such as charades leader or team captain. Those who are negative perceived by others could be provided training in social skills. By developing good rapport with class leaders, you could be more influential in convincing them (and by extension, their followers) to comply with directions. Additionally, interaction and friendship changes, and a student's progress in becoming more acceptable to others can be monitored via frequent administration of the sociogram technique. Caution and professionalism are vital when using this technique. We do not want to harm any youngster's self esteem.
How to Use Sociograms
1 Devise a question. State it in simple, easy-to-understand language. Word your question to be consistent with the information you desire to obtain (e.g., who to assign as field trip partners; who is unpopular and in need of social skills instruction).
2. Have students write their answers to your question or statement. Allow and encourage your students to make their choices privately. Clearly explain any limitations on choices (e.g., number of choices, classmates only).
3. On a listing of the names of your students, write next to each student's name the number of times s/he was selected by another (tally the responses).
4. Make a large diagram of concentric rings so that it looks like an archery target. Have one more ring than the greatest number of times any student was chosen. Start outside the last ring and number the spaces from the outside toward the inside starting with "zero".
5. Write each student's name inside the ring space corresponding to the number of times he/she was chosen.
6. Draw arrows from each student to the student selected by them.
7. Survey the diagram to assess popularity and interaction preferences. This information should remain confidential.
Recommended Reading A. F. Newcomb, W.M. Bukowski, & L. Pattee (1993). Chidren's peer relations: a meta-analytic review of popular, rejeted, neglected, controversial, and average sociometric status. Psychological Bulletin, volume 113 (issue 1), 99-128. Provides an overview of the findings of many studies using sociograms.
To purchase computer software to assess the emotional climate of your classroom, log onto: http://www.classroomsociometrics.com/
(entry by Kathryn Milner)
More complete instructions are found at this websiteSociometry in the Classroom
Critics:
There are limitations to the use of sociograms that teachers should be aware of. By checking the validity, reliability,and scope of the study teachers should be able to use sociograms effectively because all of the answers are provided by students and may not accurately reflect what is actually occuring in the classroom (Horace Mann-Lincoln Institute, p. 11). MJB
External sites of interest:
I found a great webpage with a lot of good information on this topic: http://maxweber.hunter.cuny.edu/pub/eres/EDSPC715_MCINTYRE/Sociogram.html
Personal Testimony: I have never formally heard of the sociogram before reading this, but now I do remember doing something like this during my undergrad. I guess I never really understood the benefits of doing this since it seems to me to take a lot of time.
While a classroom sociogram might help a teacher to concretely identify social patterns in his/her classroom, it is also worth noting that one possible effect would be to further isolate students who are already disliked. WRF
This is the first time I heard of the term, sociogram. I have never used it in class, or have seen other academic teachers use one. But after reading about the intent and purpose in conducting and creating one, I really find it interesting to see what patterns of relationships exist in my class. Sad to say, but the only time seeing something remotely close to something like this was in a periodical magazine running a story on adolescent "physical" behavior. I did remember seeing a sociagram of the high school students and remember feeling amazed at some of the patterns that were made in the diagram. H. Ro
Source
Wolfgang, Charles H., Solving Discipline And Classroom Management Problems: Methods and Models for Today’s Teachers; U.S.A, John Wiley and Sons, 2001.
How to Construct a Sociogram (1950). Teachers College Columbia Universtiy.
Fridley, Leslie P. Case Study of Two Well Functioning Teams http://www.virtualschool.edu/98c/Soci305/Soci305Fridley.html 1997.
Sherman, Lawrence W. Sociometry in the Classroom: How to do it http://www.users.muohio.edu/shermalw/sociometryfiles/socio_introduction.htmlx#contents 2002
