Sociometry, Prefects and Peaceful Co-Existence in a Junior School

Chapter 5: Quantitative Methods for Studying Social Context in Multilevels and Through Interpersonal Relations

“…In fact, some of Moreno's (1934) first sociograms graphically represented the sets of relations among students in a training school. Much of the earlier work linked characteristics of students' personalities with their relative social standing (Blyth, 1958(Blyth, , 1960Bonney, 1943;Boyd, 1965;Cook, 1945;Evans, 1962;French & Mensh, 1948;Gerber, 1977;Gronlund, 1950Gronlund, ,1959Jennings, l943;Northway, 1954;Olson, 1949;Powell, 1948;Zeleny, 1941), and then researchers turned to analyses of small group processes within the classroom (Flecker, 1967;King, 1960;Newcomb, 1961;Pratt, 1960;Schmuck & Schmuck, 1975). Important work in secondary schools has linked patterns of social structure to the organization of classrooms (Bossert, 1979;Epstein & Karweit, 1983;Flanders & Havumaki, 1960;Hallinan, 1976;Schmuck & Schmuck, 1975).…”

A Tool to Help Teachers Foster Integration

“…Blyth (1958) reported sociometric test results that revealed the cleavage between two groups of junior high boys that had gone unnoticed by teachers because the two groups were neither hostile nor aggressive. This study has important implications for desegregated classrooms because often students, particularly younger students, may not be inclined to be outwardly hostile toward students of a different race or ethnic group.…”