Sociometry: a study of interpersonal relations in the group

Sociometric technique, developed by J. Moreno, is used to diagnose interpersonal and intergroup relations in order to change, improve and improve them. With the help of sociometry, it is possible to study the typology of social behavior of people in the conditions of group activity, to judge the socio-psychological compatibility of members of specific groups.

Sociometric procedure may be aimed at:

a) measurement of the degree of cohesion-disunity in the group;
b) identifying “sociometric positions”, i.e., the correlative authority of group members on the basis of sympathy-antipathy , where the “leader” of the group and the “rejected” are at the extreme poles;
c) detection of intragroup subsystems, cohesive formations, which may be headed by their informal leaders.

The use of sociometry makes it possible to measure the authority of the formal and informal leaders to regroup people in teams so as to reduce the tension in the team arising from the mutual dislike of some members of the group. Sociometric methodology is carried out by the group method, its implementation does not require large time-consuming (up to 15 minutes). It is very useful in applied research, especially in work to improve relationships in a team. But it is not a radical way to resolve intragroup problems, the causes of which should be sought not in the likes and dislikes of members of the group, but in deeper sources.

The reliability of the procedure depends primarily on the correct selection of criteria for sociometry, which is dictated by the research program and preliminary acquaintance with the specifics of the group.

Sociometric procedure

The general scheme of action in a sociometric study is as follows. After setting the objectives of the study and the choice of measurement objects, the main hypotheses and statements are formulated regarding possible criteria for interviewing group members. There can not be complete anonymity, otherwise sociometry will be ineffective. The experimenter's requirement to reveal his likes and dislikes often causes internal difficulties for the respondents and manifests itself in some people in their unwillingness to participate in the survey. When questions or criteria of sociometry are selected, they are recorded on a special card or offered orally by type of interview. Each member of the group is obliged to respond to them, choosing certain members of the group depending on their greater or lesser inclination, their preference over others, sympathies or, conversely, dislikes, trust or distrust, etc.

Members of the group are invited to answer questions that make it possible to discover their likes and dislikes, one to one, for leaders who are members of the group that the group does not accept. The researcher reads out two questions: a) and b) and gives the test instructions to the test subject: “Write on paper with number 1 the name of the group member you would choose first, number 2 — who would you choose if it were not the first, under the number 3 - who would you choose if it were not for the first and second ". Then the researcher reads the question of personal relationships and also conducts briefings.

In order to confirm the reliability of responses, a study can be conducted in a group several times. For re-study taken other questions.

Sample Business Study Questions

1. a) who, with your comrades from the group, would you ask in case of need to provide assistance in preparing for classes (first, second, third)?

b) which of your comrades from the group would you not like to ask in case of need to provide you with assistance in preparing for the classes?

2. a) with whom would you go on a long business trip?

b) Which member of your group would you not take on a business trip?

3. a) Which member of the group is better able to perform the functions of a leader (headman, proforga, etc.)?

b) to which member of the group will it be difficult to perform the duties of a leader?

Sample Questions for Learned Personal Relationships

1. a) To whom in your group would you seek advice in a difficult life situation?

b) with whom from the group you would not like to consult about anything?

2. a) if all the members of your group lived in a dormitory, with which of them would you like to stay in the same room?

b) if all your group were reformed, which of its members would you not want to leave in your group?

3. a) who from the group would you invite for your birthday?

b) who from the group would you not like to see on your birthday?

In this case, the Sociometric procedure can be carried out in two forms. The first option is a non-parametric procedure. In this case, the subject is asked to answer the questions of a sociometric card without limiting the number of subject choices. If a group is calculated, say, 12 people, then in this case, each of the respondents can be selected by 11 people (except himself). Thus, the theoretically possible number of choices made by each member in the direction to other members of the group in this example will be (N-1), where N is the number of members of the group. Similarly, the theoretically possible number of elections received by the subject in the group will be equal to (N-1). Immediately realize that the specified value (N-1) of the received elections is the main quantitative constant of sociometric measurements. In a non-parametric procedure, this theoretical constant is the same for both the individual making the election and for any individual who has become the object of choice. The advantage of this variant of the procedure is that it allows you to identify the so-called emotional expansiveness of each member of the group, to make a cut of the variety of interpersonal relationships in the group structure. However, as the size of the group increases to 12–16 people, these connections become so numerous that, without the use of computer technology, it becomes very difficult to analyze them.

Another disadvantage of the non-parametric procedure is the high probability of obtaining a random selection. Some subjects, guided by their personal motive, often write in the Questionnaires: "I choose everyone." It is clear that such an answer can have only two explanations: either the subject actually has such a generalized amorphous and undifferentiated system of relations with others (which is unlikely), or the subject deliberately gives a false answer, hiding behind formal loyalty to others and the experimenter (most likely) .

The analysis of such cases forced some researchers to try to change the procedure for applying the Method itself and thus reduce the likelihood of a random choice. Thus was born the second option - a parametric procedure with a limited number of choices. Subjects are offered to choose a strictly fixed number from all members of the group. For example, in a group of 25 people each is offered to choose only 4 or 5 people. The magnitude of the limitation of the number of sociometric elections has been called the "sociometric restriction" or "election limit." Many researchers believe that the introduction of a "sociometric restriction" significantly exceeds the reliability of sociometric data and facilitates statistical processing of the material. From a psychological point of view, sociometric limitation forces the subjects to be more attentive to their answers, to choose only those members of the group who really correspond to the proposed roles of a partner, leader or co-worker for joint activities. The election limit significantly reduces the likelihood of random responses and allows you to standardize election conditions in groups of different size in one sample, which makes it possible to compare material for different groups.

At present, it is considered that for groups of 22-25 participants the minimum value of the “sociometric limit” should be chosen within the limits of 4-5 elections. The essential difference of the second variant of the sociometric procedure is that the sociometric constant (N-1) is preserved only for the system of received elections (i.e. from the group to the participant). For the system of elections given (i.e. to the group from the participant), it is measured by the new value d (sociometric restriction). By introducing this value, it is possible to standardize the external conditions of elections in groups of different numbers. To do this, it is necessary to determine the value of d at the same random probability for all groups. The formula for determining this probability was proposed in due time by J. Moreno and E. Jennings: P (A) = d / (N-1), where P is the probability of a random event (A) of a sociometric choice; N is the number of group members.

Typically, the value of P (A) is selected in the range of 0.20-0.30. Substituting these values ​​into formula (1) to determine d with a known value of N, we obtain the desired number of "sociometric constraint" in the group selected for measurements.

The disadvantage of the parametric procedure is the inability to reveal the diversity of relationships in the group. It is possible to identify only the most subjectively significant links. The sociometric structure of the group as a result of this approach will reflect only the most typical, “selected” communications. The introduction of a “sociometric restriction” does not allow one to judge the emotional expansiveness of group members.

Sociometric card or Sociometric questionnaire is compiled at the final stage of program development. In it, each member of the group Must indicate their attitude to other members of the group on the selected criteria (for example, from the point of view of teamwork, participation in solving a business problem, leisure, in the game, etc.) The criteria are determined depending on the program of this study : Are relationships studied in a production group, leisure group, temporary or stable group?

Sociometric card

When polling without limiting the choices in a sociometric card, after each criterion, a column should be selected, the dimensions of which would allow giving sufficiently full answers. When polling with restriction of elections, to the right of each criterion, as many vertical columns are drawn on the card, how many choices are we supposed to allow in this group. Determining the number of choices for groups of different size, but with a predetermined value of P (A) in the range of 0.14-0.25, can be made using a special table (see below).

Limit Values ​​for Sociometric Choices

The results of sociometry. Data processing

When the sociometric cards are filled and collected, the stage of their mathematical processing begins. The simplest ways of quantitative processing are tabular, graphical and indexological.

Sociomatrix (table) . First, you should build a simple socio-matrix. An example is given in the table (see below). The election results are spread across the matrix using the legend. Results tables are filled in first and foremost, separately for business and personal relationships.

Vertically recorded by the numbers of the names of all members of the group that is being studied; horizontally - only their number. At the corresponding intersections, the numbers +1, +2, +3 designate those whom each subject chooses in the first, second, third turn, in the numbers -1, -2, -3 - those whom the test subject does not elect in the first, second and third turn .

Mutual positive or negative choice is outlined in the table (regardless of the order of choice). After the positive and negative choices are entered in the table, it is necessary to calculate the vertical algebraic sum of all received by each member of the election group (the sum of the choices). Then it is necessary to calculate the sum of points for each member of the group, taking into account that the choice in the first place equals +3 points (-3), in the second - +2 (-2), in the third - +1 (-1). After that, the total algebraic sum is calculated, which determines the status in the group.

Note: + positive choice; - negative choice.

An analysis of the socio-matrix for each criterion provides a fairly clear picture of the relationship in the group. The total socio-women who give a picture of the elections according to several criteria can be built, as well as the socio-women according to the inter-group elections. The main advantage of a socio-matrix is ​​the ability to represent elections in a numerical form, which in turn allows ranking members of a group according to the number of elections received and given, and to establish the order of influence in the group. A sociogram is built on the basis of a sociological matrix — a map of sociometric choices (a sociometric map.

Sociogram

Sociogram - a graphic representation of the reaction of subjects to each other when answering a sociometric criterion . Sociogram allows to make a comparative analysis of the structure of relationships in a group in space on a certain plane (“shield”) with the help of special signs (figure below). It gives a visual representation of the intragroup differentiation of group members by their status (popularity). An example of a sociogram (group differentiation maps) proposed by J. Kolominsky, see below:

——> a positive one-sided choice,
<——> a positive mutual choice
------> negative unilateral choice,
<------> negative reciprocal choice.

Sociogram technique is a significant addition to the tabular approach to the analysis of sociometric material, because it allows for a deeper qualitative description and visual presentation of group phenomena.

The analysis of a sociogram consists in finding the central, most influential members, then mutual pairs and groups. Groupings are made up of interconnected individuals seeking to choose each other. Most often in sociometric measurements there are positive groupings of 2, 3 members, less often of 4 or more members.

Sociometric indices

There are personal sociometric indices (PSI) and group sociometric indices (GSI). The first characterize the individual socio-psychological properties of the individual as a member of a group. The second give the numerical characteristics of the integral sociometric configuration of elections in the group. They describe the properties of group communication structures. The main psi are: the index of the sociometric status of the i-member; the emotional expansiveness of the j-term, the volume, intensity and concentration of the interaction of the ij-member. The symbols i and j denote the same person, but in different roles; i - selectable, j - he also chooses, ij - combination of roles.

The index of the sociometric status of the i-member of the group is determined by the formula:

where Сi is the sociometric status of the i-member, R + and R- are the i-member choices, Z is the sign of algebraic summation of the number of i-member choices received, N is the number of group members.

Sociometric status is a property of an individual as an element of a sociometric structure to occupy a certain spatial position (locus) in it, that is, to relate in a certain way with other elements. Such a property is developed among the elements of the group structure unevenly and for comparative purposes it can be measured by a number — an index of sociometric status.

The elements of a sociometric structure are individuals, members of a group. Each of them in one way or another interacts with each other, communicates, directly exchanges information, etc. At the same time, each member of the group, being a part of the whole (group), influences the behavior of the whole with its behavior. The implementation of this impact proceeds through various socio-psychological forms of mutual influence. The subjective measure of this influence is emphasized by the magnitude of the sociometric status. But a person can influence others in two ways - either positively or negatively. Therefore, it is customary to talk about positive and negative status. Status also measures a person’s potential leadership ability. To calculate the sociometric status, it is necessary to use the data of the socio-matrix.

It is also possible to calculate C-positive and C-negative status in small groups (N).

The index of emotional expansiveness of the j-member of the group is calculated by the formula

where Ej is the emotional expansiveness of the j-member, Rj is the choices made by / member (+, -). From a psychological point of view, the expansiveness indicator characterizes the need of a person for communication.

From G.S.I. the most important are: The group's emotional expansiveness index and the psychological reciprocity index .

The group's emotional expansiveness index is calculated by the formula:

where Ag is the expansiveness of the group, N is the number of members of the group? Rj (+, -) are j-member selections. The index shows the average activity of the group when solving the problem of sociometric test (per each member of the group).

The psychological reciprocity index (“group cohesion”) in a group is calculated using the formula

:

where Gg is reciprocity in the group based on the results of positive choices, Aij + is the number of positive reciprocal relationships in group N is the number of group members.

Literature:

1. Methods of psychological diagnosis. - M., 1993
2. Techniques of social and psychological diagnosis of personality and group. - M., 1990