Sociometric indices of group structure

Abstract

Interpersonal rating matrices, based on a variety of sociometric questions, were systematically analysed to yield information about Tour structural properties of entire groups and information about two rating tendencies of individual members. Data came from 57 groups, including nuclear families, high school classes, and adolescent peer groups. The group property of status differentiation (or stratification) correlated with members' judgement of the group as heterogeneous in membership. The group property of differential mutuality (or cliquishness) correlated with members' tendency to prefer companions outside the group and to see membership as transitory. Individual members tended to rate others by contrast with themselves on “objective” traits and by reciprocity on “subjective” traits.