SOCIOMETRY: CHARACTERISTICS, HISTORY, GENERAL OBJECTIVES - PSYCHOLOGY - 2025

The sociometría is a method of psychosocial research, quantitative, which seeks to measure social relations within a specific group, both generally and individually.

Sociometry allows the application of quantitative measurement methods within social structures, and to measure the capacities and psychological well-being of its members.

Sociogram example

Developed and promoted by the American nationalized Romanian psychotherapist Jacob Levy Moreno, sociometry has made it possible to visualize levels of social interaction between members of different groups in educational and professional fields.

Those reasons that condition social interaction and that cannot be consciously perceived by individuals are what sociometry can explain.

The sociometric method uses methodological instruments typical of the quantitative approach, such as the survey and the questionnaire, which form the sociometric test.

Sociometry arises at the beginning of the 20th century in North America, from the work "Fundamentals of sociometry", carried out by Moreno. From this proposal, the methods would emerge that would turn sociometry into a technique capable of addressing, diagnosing and predicting dynamics of social interaction within small groups in different social contexts.

History of sociometry

Jacob Levy Moreno, a psychiatrist graduated in Vienna and a disciple of Freud, would have his first approach to sociometric analysis when he had to work in the organization of a refugee colony in Austria.

Through the knowledge of interpersonal problems, Moreno had the idea of ​​organizing these people through sociometric planning.

In 1925 Moreno would move to the United States and begin to develop a theoretical basis for his new method. Other researchers supported him in the foundation of the theoretical and practical movement of sociometry, such as William A. White, Fany F. Morse, Gardner Murphy, among others.

His first large-scale sociometric approach would be at the Sing-Sing North American penitentiary in New York. This would allow him to see in a much broader way the diversity of variables that cover interpersonal relationships between different groups within a given space.

From this experience Moreno developed the sociograms, diagrams that study the sympathies and antipathies between the individuals of a certain group.

Moreno would publish and disseminate his sociograms among the North American scientific community causing a very positive impact, giving great publicity to sociometry as an effective method of quantitative and psychological analysis.

In the thirties he published a work on human relations that would finish laying the foundation of sociometry.

From then on this practice had such a boom that it was applied in different scenarios and analysis projects; had its own specialized publication, a journal called Sociometría: a publication on interpersonal relationships, published from 1936 on.

Finally, the Institute of Sociometry was founded in New York, which would later adopt the name of its creator, Instituto Moreno.

General objectives of sociometry

Among the main objectives of sociometry according to its author, Jacob Moreno, are:

• Know the level of acceptance that a person can have in their group.
• Inquire into the reasons why this is so.
• Evaluate the level of cohesion between all the members of the same group.

Identify rejected individuals

It is important for sociometry to classify and identify the individuals who suffer the greatest rejection and those who are more valued by the rest, in order to be able to work individually with the former in favor of a better group relationship, and to evaluate the potential for group leadership that they can have the seconds.

Identify isolated individuals

Another objective is to identify the subjects who are considered isolated; that is, they do not generate any type of influence, positive or negative, on the group dynamics and relationships.

Study group dynamics

This objective consists of predicting, once the group has been studied, how it is capable of reacting and adapting to changes that include the incorporation of new members to the group and the departure of an old member.

The group studied must be able to behave in a dynamic and positive way before possible internal changes.

All these objectives are valid for sociometry applied to educational and even professional work environments, the two most popular groups studied by sociometry.

Sociometric method

The sociometric method is used much more widely in the educational sector, to have a better notion of the degree of interaction and cohesion between fellow students, as well as to reveal the positive or negative aspects that may exist between them, and how this affects the general educational dynamics.

The main functions of sociometry are, firstly, the diagnosis of the interpersonal relationships of groups, highlighting that the groups that sociometry addresses are never really numerous, to ensure that the result can be as accurate as possible.

Once the scenario and its variables have been diagnosed, that is, the state of interpersonal relationships in a given group, the method is applied using the sociometric test.

This consists of a questionnaire that each individual will fill out according to their own preferences, free of any type of obligation or pressure. The test proposes scenarios and the freedom for the individual to choose with whom they would more or less like to carry out certain hypothetical activities, as well as the reasons why they make that decision.

In this way, and from the individual results of each participant, it is possible to have a much clearer and more objective notion of the interpersonal dynamics of the group, as well as an idea of ​​the reasons why some individuals have greater appreciation or rejection of each other. they.

Once the instrument has been applied and studied, the method continues with other of its functions: forecasting. It consists of conceiving the most appropriate and effective way to solve the tensions that may exist and stimulate to the maximum the already existing and positive group relationships.

References

1. Bezanilla, JM (2011). Sociometry: a psychosocial research method. México, DF: PEI Editorial.
2. EcuRed. (sf). Sociometry. Obtained from EcuRed. Knowledge with everything and for everyone: ecured.cu
3. Forselledo, AG (2010). Introduction to sociometry and its applications. Montevideo: University of Higher Studies.
4. Moreno, JL (1951). Sociometry, Experimental Method and the Science of Society: An Approach to a New Political Orientation.. Beacon House.