Stability of three methods for two-dimensional sociometric status determination based on the procedure of Asher, Singleton, Tinsley and Hymel

This study aimed at comparing the stability of three methods for two-dimensional sociometric status determination, including (1) the recently developed SSrat technique (Maassen, Akkermans, and Van der Linden, 1996), as well as (2) the procedure of Howes (1988), which is based on the algorithm and classification criteria of Coie and Dodge (1983), and (3) a procedure applied by Cillessen, van IJzendoorn, Van Lieshout, and Hartup (1992) based on the algorithm and criteria of Newcomb and Bukowski (1983). The latter two techniques can be regarded as nomination methods eliciting unlimited numbers of nominations from the participants. In the present study, 83 pupils (ages ranging from 5.8 to 8.8 years) participated in the 3-point rating procedure of Asher, Singleton, Tinsley, and Hymel (1979). They were asked to rate how much they liked to play with each of their classmates. The ratings data were processed in three ways according to the methods mentioned above. The techniques of Howes and of Cillessen et al. showed higher stability than previously ever reported using the nomination procedures of Coie and Dodge or Newcomb and Bukowski. Nevertheless, the rating scale procedure SSrat proved to have even higher stability.