Sociometric technique

by Yuvi - September 12, 2021

Meaning of Sociometric technique

Sociometry is a science to study the inter-relationship of members of a group, their attitude, values, acceptance to each other and role of every individual in the group.

Types of Sociometric technique

• Social Distance Scale – Developed by Bogardus. Specific statements (some positive and acceptable, some negative and unacceptable) are given regarding a social situation or person. And the group is instructed to rank them. Helps to find out social inter-relationship of the group.

Eg.

• I love to work with Suresh
• I like to work with Suresh
• I don’t mind working with Suresh
• I find it difficult to work with Suresh
• It is impossible to work with Suresh

Guess-Who technique – Developed by Hugh Hartshorne and Mark May, here, members of groups have to identify the persons and write his name against the characteristics provided.

Eg.

Honest Person – __________

Lazy Person – __________

Hardworking Person – __________

Cooperative Person – __________

Selfish Person – __________

Kind Person – __________

Cunning Person – __________

Loving Person – __________

• Communigram – Communication skills of a person in a group can be found out and measures. i.e. In a given time, how many times does the person speak?
• Sociometric/peer rating – To find out one’s popularity whether a person is liked by a group or not.

Eg. With whom do you want to study?

• Ramesh?
• Baban?
• Kumar?
• Sociogram – In this technique, one can present information in a graph form.

Eg. Whom would you like to be the monitor of your class?

For this technique, the group should be moderate in size, it should not be very small or very large. And members of the group should know each other very well.

Merits of Sociometric technique

• Economical method in terms of time and money
• Reveals information about personal and social adjustment
• Studies the stability of the group
• Helpful to improve social climate in the classroom.

Limitations of Sociometric technique

• Only reveals status of relationships and does not help to “establish” relationships.
• It is valid only if proper rapport exists and student/teacher giving opinion is honest.
• Social situations often fluctuate so relationships are not always stable.

Dramatics:

1. If some topic is dramatized, the student can be given counselling in an interesting way.
2. Topic for Drama:
   1. How to appear for interview
   2. How to prepare for the examination
   3. How to prepare notes
3. Guidelines can be given through drama
4. Role playing is a type of drama, depicting some scenes from real life situations
5. It may show how people work in a particular occupation
6. Could show the merits & limitations of the occupation
7. Students may be asked to play a role
8. They should be motivated for role playing
9. A former student may be asked to enlighten on a course of study or an occupation.