Sociometry

Sociometry is a set of techniques for measuring social relationships within a defined group to describe who interacts with whom, who is connected to whom, and whose choices indicate acceptance or influence. It provides a map or diagram of the group's informal structure, complementing formal organization charts.

Originating with Jacob Levy Moreno in the 1930s, sociometry emerged in group psychotherapy and education. It introduced sociograms, diagrams that display interpersonal links, and formal procedures for collecting and analyzing nominations or ratings.

Core methods involve asking group members to nominate or rate others for social attributes, such as “Who do you like to work with?” or “Who do you spend time with?” Responses yield dyadic links that can be represented as a graph. Measures include acceptance and rejection (often through sociometric choices), centrality, density, and the identification of subgroups or cliques. Output typically takes the form of a sociogram or sociomap.

Applications span educational, organizational, and clinical contexts. In schools, sociometry can help identify isolated students or dynamics that affect participation. In workplaces, it supports team-building and communication improvements. In group therapy, it can aid in diagnosing dynamics and guiding interventions to enhance inclusion and collaboration.

Limitations and ethical considerations include dependence on voluntary participation, honesty, and the influence of context, mood, or cultural norms on responses. Privacy concerns, informed consent, and the potential for labeling or stigmatization must be managed, and results should be interpreted with caution, recognizing that sociometry examines relationships within a specific group rather than broad individual attributes.