by Ann E. Hale, M.A., TEP
The word sociometry has been given to a field of study which includes
far more than measurement. What are ways you describe the field to
prospective students? What others terms do you use for this field of
sociometry?
Sociometry, historically
Sociometry as it is currently practiced is both a quantitative
methodology and a qualitative methodology as well as a collection of
theories not limited to community building, role theory, social
planning theory, social network mapping, interpersonal relations, group
dynamics, healing of society (sociatry) theory of action, spontaneity
theory and the cultural conserve, etc. The field of sociometry began
during the second quarter of the 1900's when the field of
sociology was examining social psychology. There was an explosion of
interest in research and empirical study: “...at the turn of the
century, social psychology was beginning to show signs of shifting from
an area of speculation to one of empirically based generalizations...
even though the range of observations or experimentation was often very
limited.”1 In 1952 Henry J. Meyer of New York University
wrote an article about Moreno’s recently published Sociometry, Experimental Method and the Science of Society: an approach to a new political orientation.
“What emerges from a reading of the various selections in this
book—ranging from autobiography, speculations and argument, on the one
hand, to definitions, statements of theory, research reporting and
criticism, on the other — is a view of what sociometry is to Dr.
Moreno. Like other new approaches, sociometry cannot be confined to the
ideas of its creator. Having launched sociometry into the world, even
Dr. Moreno cannot control the meanings it will have to many people.
This is one indication of the stimulations sociometry affords. ” 2 “The
full import of the writings in this book cannot be grasped unless one
keeps in mind that sociometry is a philosophy of living, springing from
a profound belief in the spontaneous and creative in human beings and a
desire to release such forces from the fetters of institutions and
culture. “3 “Because of this belief in the central place of
spontaneity in genuine human relations, Moreno makes no distinction
between a philosophy of society, social research, and social action."4
In 1975 Martin Haskell published through his business Role Training Associate of California the book Socioanalysis: Self-direction via Sociometry and Psychodrama.
He writes that socioanalysis is a form of sociotherapy for the
individual.5 By this time Robert and Ellen Siroka had
established the Institute for Sociotherapy in New York City which
offered training in sensitivity, encounter, sociometry, psychodrama as
well as counselling. In 1976 Peter Dean Mendelson published his
extraordinary doctoral dissertation Rethinking Sociometry: Towards the reunification of Theory, Philosophy, Methodology and Praxis
6 Mendelson has minutely and eloquently examined the state of present
day sociometry. The meatier sections of his dissertation
investigates the existence of bifurcation in the application of
sociometry: “Moreno believed that sociometry was being mis-applied and
distorted. He himself recognized (and this of course is of utmost
importance) that sociometry was being transformed as it underwent a
process of bifurcation. As Moreno’s theory and philosophy were being
relegated to the background, the very meaning of sociometry as
originally formulated appeared to become increasingly undermined.
Moreno was forced to remind sociologists that there was far more to
sociometry than the compulsive focus on measurement and quantification;
he asked them to re-examine what sociometry was meant to be.
“7 ”Thus sociometry, according to Moreno, “is not only an
instrument for exploring the status of a population, but primarily an
instrument to bring a population to a collective state of
self-expression in respect to the fundamental activities in which it is
or is about to be involved.”8
In 1986 Linnea Carlsen- Sabelli 9 began to combine sociodynamics
and sociometry in investigations of choice-making in groups. The
sociodynamic aspect of the sociometric test provided for persons to
report underlying ambivalence present in the choice process (pull to
choose/not choose) and following this with the sociometric test which
was focused on the decision whether to choose, not choose or remain
neutral. Computer programming allowed for the merging of these
two sets of data and to depict sociometric choices in three dimensions,
(in phase space). A number of computer programs were developed to
handle sociometric data and depict sociograms. Tom Treadwell
developer of ComSoc covers a number of these programs on his
website.10 With the growth of the field of social network
analysis and organizational network analysis the processes,
terminology, interventions, and ethics have undergone dramatic changes.
Describing the field to your trainees
A review of the history is significant as it helps to track the various
ways Moreno’s students and colleagues have communicated with other and
like-minded professional identities. In describing the field of
sociometry to your trainees you might want to engage them in a
brainstorming activity to develop a definition of sociometry which
includes sociometry as a philosophy, sociometry as action (including
“assignment therapy”), and sociometry as a research tool. In 1986
students in a training seminar of mine wrote this definition. It does
not refer to measurement at all, but I offer it as an example:
“Sociometry is intended to raise consciousness about
(1) the current choice-making activity in a group; (2) potential
choices for partners with whom one shares time, space, energy and
information; and (3) the effects of actual and potential choices on
group structure and the tensions, struggles and complementarity of that
structure. It is also designed to bring together those persons
capable of harmonious interpersonal relationships in order to (1)
increase the felt sense of belonging; (2) strengthen networks;
and, (3) provide a safety net of support for taking risks and
self-disclosure. Finally we believe sociometry will enable
participants during sociometric events to develop versatility in social
interaction, and increase their ability to face and tolerate intimacy,
conflict and change.” 11
In answering this question, Diana Jones, a certified sociometrist
(ANZPA) and trainer shared this compilation of terms: “ social network
exploration, relationship mapping, social atom exploration, exploring
informal networks of relations in groups, developing interpersonal
perception (Hale) , people networks, building connections,
psycho-social geography of a group/community (Moreno), working with
subgroups and their values and inter-connections, measuring the
relationship between people in groups. So I use a range of terms...”12
In 2004 Marv Thomas published a sociometry book entitled Personal Village: How to Have People in Your Life by Choice not Chance.
In the forward he credits Moreno but the term sociometry is not
used in the text; however, his language and approach is beautifully
descriptive and
inclusive of Moreno’s vision of human groups.13 This book is most
useful for persons wanting to introduce sociometric principles to
persons using non-academic language.
In conclusion, I believe it is important for student to know what has happened to the
field of sociometry and ways in which they, as future practitioners and
trainers may address the stripping away of the sociometric theory base
from the methods. Peter Mendelson writes: “Many of the methods of sociometry (for instance role
training) were easily amenable to conservative exploitation.
Methods, in and of themselves, are clearly more open-ended than
theory. For the meaning of a theory, once it is established, is
more or less constant: it can not, willy-nilly, be taken to mean just
anything. If the theorist has made the meaning clear, subsequent
users of the theory are constrained either to follow the theorist’s
meaning or explicitly to revise (or less explicitly, to distort)
it....A problem, however, arises when methods are (as they
usually can be) used in a manner incompatible with the general
philosophical aims of the theory from which they emanated. And, this,
frequently, is what happened to sociometry. Sociometric methods
and techniques were open to conservative exploitation precisely because
they were so open ended. They quite clearly could be (and were) used to
solidify and more firmly establish existing social systems and their
personnel rather than to alter social systems and structures (or to
redistribute power and redefine goals)," 14
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1 Borgatta, Edgar F. (1966) ‘The Impact of Social Psychology on Group Psychotherapy” in J.L. Moreno, et.al The International Handbook of Group Psychotherapy, NY, Philosophical Library, p. 212.
2 Meyer, Henry J. (1952) “The Sociometries of Dr. Moreno” Sociometry Vol. 15 (August-November) p. 355.
3 Ibid.
4 Ibid, p. 357.
5 Haskell, Martin R. (1975) Socioanalysis: Self-direction via Sociometry and Psychodrama. Long Beach, CA, Role Training Associates of California, p. 13
6 Mendelson, Peter Dean (1976) Rethinking Sociometry: Towards the reunification of Theory, Philosophy, Methodology and Praxis , a doctoral dissertation, St. Louis, Washington University. 442 pages.
7 Ibid., p.179
8 Mills, Wright The Sciological Imagination . NY, Oxford University Press, 1959, p.117.
9 Carlson-Sabelli, Linnea, Hector Sabelli and Ann E. Hale, “Sociometry and sociodynamics” in Psychodrama Since Moreno (1994) London, Routledge, p. 150-154.
10 Tom Treadwell, EdD., TEP makes various programs available via his web address is http://coral.wcupa.edu/sociometry
11 Hale, Ann E. “Sociometry of company life: a guide for
Playback Theater, company actors and directors” an unpublished paper,
Roanoke, VA, 1989, p.2.
12 Jones, Diana (September 19, 2006 1:41am) E-mail correspondence RE:
Trainer Sociometry Question, Sept 9-23, 2006. 1 page. Diana Jones
is the principle of The organization Development Company located in New
Zealand. She makes available on her web site a listing of terms
to help sociometrists and social network analysis folk become
“bilingual” . See http://www.sociometry.co.nz/social_network_analysis.htm
13 Thomas, Marv, (2004) Personal Village: How to Have People in Your Life by Choice not Chance Seattle, WA, Lakeridge Press, http://www.personalvillage.com
14 Mendelson, p. 276.
