Sociometry
Sociometry is a quantitative method for measuring and analyzing social relationships, preferences, and structures within groups, developed by psychiatrist Jacob L. Moreno (1889–1974).[1][2] Moreno, who began conceptualizing sociometry in the 1920s, formalized it in his 1934 book Who Shall Survive?, defining it as the inquiry into the evolution of groups and the positions of individuals within them.[3][4] Central to sociometry are techniques like sociometric testing, where group members select preferred associates for specific criteria, yielding data visualized in sociograms—diagrams that map attractions, repulsions, and isolations to identify patterns such as mutual choices, chains, or isolated individuals.[5][6] These methods, initially applied in educational settings to improve classroom dynamics, revealed empirical insights into social hierarchies and cohesion, influencing therapeutic practices in psychodrama and group psychotherapy.[7][8] Sociometry's emphasis on measurable interpersonal dynamics laid groundwork for later developments in social network analysis, though it prioritizes subjective choices over purely structural metrics, fostering applications in organizational consulting, military integration during World War II, and clinical interventions for relational issues.[9][10] Despite its empirical foundations, adoption has been uneven, partly due to Moreno's eclectic integration with dramatic enactment methods, which some viewed as less rigorous than statistical sociology.[11][12]