Children experiencing social difficulties: Sociometric neglect reconsidered.

In recent years, sociometric data have been used to categorize children with regard to difficulties in their peer relationships. The primary purpose of the present report was to critically evaluate an oft-used sociometric procedure, the peer nomination technique. Sociometric nomination data have allowed a distinction to be made among different subgroups of children thought to be unpopular. For example, rejected children have typically been characterized as unpopular and aggressive; neglected children have been viewed as unpopular and shy or withdrawn. An examination of the data extant reveal support for the assumption that some rejected children are aggressive; however, the data concerning the behavioural characteristics of neglected children are equivocal. In this study we examined whether children who were identified as sociometrical ly neglected in grade 4 were unpopular and evidenced shyness, withdrawal, and other characteristics conceptually associated with internalizing problems such as loneliness and negative self-perceptions. The data revealed that neglected children could not be distinguished from their average counterparts on any dependent measure. Rejected children were found to be more unpopular, aggressive, as well as withdrawn than the other sociometric groups. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for the use of sociometry to identify children at risk for social and emotional difficulties.