Social rejection is associated with a wide variety of negative outcomes. Early identification of social rejection and intervention to minimize its negative impact is thus important. However, sociometric methods, which are considered high in validity for identifying socially rejected children, are frequently not used because of (a) procedural…

Examines global and domain-specific self-concept differences among children and adolescents (N=815) of popular, rejected, neglected, controversial, average, and "unclassified" social status. Findings support the hypothesis that students in extreme status groups would differ in self-concept; however, fewer consistent differences emerged.…

Administered two sociometric measures to 463 second-, and fourth-, and sixth-graders from which 179 pupils were sociometrically identified as populars, rejecteds, neglecteds, and controversials. These subjects were subsequently administered the Purdue Elementary Problem Solving Inventory. Found significant differences in interpersonal…

Investigated stability of sociometric classification system. Found that, among 137 students in kindergarten through grade 4, scores upon which sociometric classifications were based were moderately stable, but sociometric status was unstable over 1-year interval. Reclassification rates for extreme groups (rejected, neglected, controversial,…

Made comparisons from teachers' and self-report judgments of social skills, behavior problems, and academic achievement among 331 popular, controversial, neglected, or rejected adolescents in grades 6-10. Findings support past studies indicating that popular children displayed more socially skilled behaviors and fewer behavior problems than…

Examined whether children identified by teachers at different levels of risk for school failure were distinguished by peers in terms of social status and behavioral descriptors. Findings from 348 kindergartners showed significant effect for risk groups for both sociometric measures and descriptors. No-risk group was viewed more positively than…

Used sociometric rating procedure to classify third and fifth grade boys (N=64) as peer-rejected. Standardized teacher ratings classified students as aggressive. Significant portion of rejected students were rated as highly aggressive. Aggressive rejected groups were rated as exhibiting lower achievement motivation and higher levels of hostile…

The effectiveness of teachers in identifying children who experience peer relationship difficulties was examined by comparing populations selected by teacher ratings and sociometric nomination procedures. Results revealed teachers were successful in identifying those who experienced the most severe peer rejection and were most likely to select…

This study systematically investigated the effects of different procedures on classroom behaviors ranging from teacher designated seating groups and seating groups based on sociometric data to peer encouragement and free time reinforcers. Subjects were first- and third-grade children. (Author)

Reviews various methods of social skills assessment with children. Found that behavioral observations, sociometrics, and teacher ratings have been the most often used methods. Suggests school psychologists should utilize all three measures to secure a comprehensive picture of children's social behavior and to obtain some measure of social…