Sociometry

From WikEd

Contents 1 Sociometry 2 Definitions 3 History 4 Applications to the Classroom 5 Personal Testimonies 6 Related Readings and Research 7 Critics 8 References:

[edit] Sociometry

1. Socius - social

2. metrum - measure

[edit] Definitions

1. Literally, sociometry means the measurment of social groups (1).
2. The quantitative study of interpersonal relationships in populations, especially the study and measurement of preferences (1).
3. To comprehend and measure the socius (2).
4. "Sociometry is a way of measuring the degree of relatedness among people. Measurement of relatedness can be useful not only in the assessment of behavior within groups, but also for interventions to bring about positive change and for determining the extent of change" (3).

[edit] History

J. L. Moreno (1953) is the founder of sociometry. Early in his life he was employed by the Austrian government in a position to help with the organization of 10,000 Italian immigrants, it was in his plan for a community for these people that he coined the term sociometry and put it into use with this planned community (4).

In 1925, Moreno came to the United States where he presented his idea of sociometry in a paper title, "Psychological Organization of Groups in the Community." "This paper was illustrated by an exhibit of over a hundred sociometric charts, and theses charts caught the imagination not only of the delegates but also the press, and they received considerable publicity" (4).

The use of sociometry has since expanded into other fields such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, and is now being used for education and classroom purposes. The use of sociometry in the classroom is to find the best relationships between students and to see how children see themselves within the social construct of education.

[edit] Applications to the Classroom

"Every teacher knows that the group of children with which he works is more that an aggregation of individuals. He knows that the group has form and structure; that there are patterns of sub-groups, cliques, and frinedships. Some individuals are more accepted by the group then others. Some are more rejected. Theses factors play an important role in determining how the group will react to learning situations and to various types of group management employed by the teacher" (5).

This quote is a very nice summary of the necessity of sociometry in the classroom. It also highlights what sociometrists are trying to accomplish by studying groups in social settings. They are trying to see how people get along in groups and what this means in the context of learning and developing within the classroom.

For group work, sociometry can be a powerful tool for reducing conflict and improving communication because it allows the group to see itself objectively and to analyze its own dynamics. It is also a powerful tool for assessing dynamics and development in groups devoted to therapy or training(3).

A Sociogram is an important tool for teachers. The sociogram is the chart used to actually apply sociometry in the classroom. It charts the interrelationships within a group. Its purpose is to discover group structures and the relation of any one person to the group as a whole. Its value to the teacher is in its potentiality for developing greater understanding of group behaviour so that he may operate more wisely in group management and curriculm (5). This shows the positive nature of sociometry and the use of it is important for understanding the relationships within classrooms. Once this relationship is understood by the teacher, group work can be better facilitated for greater learning to occur.

When working with students who tend to socially withdraw or isolate themselves, a sociometric activity can be conducted with the class to determine the peer(s) who would most like to interact with the targeted students. These results can then be used when assigning groups and arranging seating (6).

[edit] Personal Testimonies

Although I feel that sociograms would be an effective tool in understanding the classroom environment, I do not know if it was ever employed in any of my classrooms during my education. Because of this I have to wonder if there are other reasons, that my research has not yet revealed, as to why it is not a highly used tool, or if it is a tool that students wouldn't recognize being managed with. MJB

The use of graphic organizers and Advance organizers in the classroom helps strengthen patterns of working together and cooperation in the classroom. By using these tools, the sociometrics of the classroom may be enhanced.

[edit] Related Readings and Research

1. Sherif, M. (1956). Experiments in group conflict. Scientific American, 195, 54-58.
2. Rodkin, P. C., Farmer, T. W., Pearl, R., & Van Acker, R. (2000). Heterogeneity of popular boys: Antisocial and prosocial configurations. Developmental Psychology, 36, 14-24.
3. Dolan, D. (2001, April 8). How to be a popular teenager. New York Times.
4. Psychodrama
5. other books
6. There are many, many studies using sociometry from measuring peer relationships in preschool, and middle school, to understanding group relationships amongst the mentally retarded. I encourage, if interested in sociometry, to explore these other avenues because this topic is very broad and cannot be completely covered on this page.
7. Social network

[edit] Critics

Sociometry is rarely used in the classroom because it usually cannot be effectively reproduced by teachers in their classrooms. However, studies of aggression and school violence show how and why sociograms should be used (Rodkin, P. in-class discussion, Psych 465, 12/02/2004).

Suggested reading: Mulvey, E.P., & Cauffman, E. (2001). The inherent limits of predicting school violence. American Psychologist, 56, 797-802.

There has been research conducted pointing out that there is a tendency to use esoteric terms which are intelligible only to the initiated and create barriers to communication (4).

There is also critics that argue over the meaning of the word sociometry. There is a conflict between the original work by Moreno, and the advancing and broader research of Chapin (4). Moreno's meaning of sociometry can fit into the third tier of Chapin's three stage model of sociometry (4).

[edit] References:

1. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
2. Moreno, J. L. (1953). Who shall survive? Foundations of Sociometry, Group Psychotherapy, and Sociodrama. Beacon House Inc. Beacon, New York.
3. Hoffman, C. (2001). Introduction to Sociometry. 11/23/2004.
4. Evans, K.M., (1962). Sociometry and Education. Routledge & Kegan Paul. London.
5. How to Construct a Sociogram (1950). Teachers College of Columbia University.
6. Boucher, C. R. (1999). Students in discord: Adolescents with emotional and behavioral disorders. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.