Two-dimensional sociometric status determination with rating scales

Sociometric status is derivedfrom a concatenation ofjudgments at the individual leveL In previous articles, the authors argued that score attribution at this level (where one group member assesses another) is one-dimensional along the sympathy+-antipathy continuum. Two-dimensionality of sociometric status arises at the group level. It was shown that at this level, too, sympathy and antipathy are not two distinct dimensions but the poles ofjust one, the other being visibility (or impact). If one accepts the model of one-dimensional score attribution at the individual level, it would seem logical to base sociometric status determination on rating scales. In this article, a procedure for this is developed and a covering computer program (SSRAT) is introduced. Finally, the results of the current nomination methods and the proposed rating method applied in the same classroom groups are compared The results of the rating method appear to be more valid and more refined.