Sociometric research in pedagogy

Abstract

The use of sociometric research in pedagogy implies consideration of methodological demands pertaining to the selection and formulation of sociometric criteria, the selection of sociometric techniques, instruments and sociometric group classification methods. Various authors agree that sociometric criteria are basic relevant activities of the group they refer to and that they should be meaningful, understandable to every group member and clearly and precisely formulated. The selection of the appropriate sociometric technique and instrument has to be adjusted with the goal of sociometric research, along with the consideration of the advantages and short­comings of different sociometric techniques and instruments. The existing research provides very divergent results on the adequacy of different classification methods in identifying stable sociometric groups. Still, the majority of studies have confirmed that the two-dimensional rating scale method yields more stable classifications than the classification methods based on peer nominations, as well as that it is methodologically more justifiable to use cluster analysis in identifying stable sociometric status groups than the traditional classification methods.

Keywords

• sociometric criteria
• sociometric techniques
• sociometric instruments
• sociometric classification methods
• sociometric research