INTERNET SOCIOMETRY

[T.Treadwell]

Internet Sociometry Structure.

What I find interesting is the internet sociometry notion posted on the 
listserv a few weeks back.  This listserv serves an international group of 
persons who focus on the theoretical and applied aspects of communicating 
ideas via the net.

Limitations:
Internet sociometry was not defined in the previous posts so that may have 
an aversive effect on participants.

Would the on line sociometric experiment include all members of the 
listserv? This was not addressed.

Recommendation:

>From an experimental perspective  -
1.	The authors need to define what they would like to measure.
2.	Identify an on-line group of persons that consent to participate.
3.	Focus on confidentiality . that is letting everyone know that the
         listserv is public.
4.	Discuss whether names or numbers shall be used to display results.
5.	Instruments: Identify the on-line sociometric instrument(s) to
         measure their predictions
6.	Discuss how the results are going to be displayed.
7.	Hypothesize what they predict to find.
8.	Run the experiment for x number of days.


A few sociometric ideas from Diana Jones website  . these guidelines may 
not be applicable to on line groups.  http://www.sociometry.co.nz/

Well-produced sociometric interventions results in three things:

1. They confirm the inner structure of this group
2. Group members feel more united within themselves, and warm up to 
progressive roles/behaviour
3.The group re-defines itself; group member's relationships are 
strengthened enabling them to be more productive.

When to use sociometry

1. When relationship dynamics are hindering people producing business 
results
2. When you want to move your organisation(s) from isolated silos to 
collaborative networks
3. When you want to strengthen teams working in demanding situations
4. When you need ways to surface and sort out issues of group 
conflict, trust and identity
5. When you want to understand and address the "soft" and unspoken 
aspects of everyday group life
6. When you need to develop appropriate behaviours for your ideal 
work culture
7. When its time to integrate thinking, feeling and action in 
business relationships
8. When you want to release the informal leadership abilities within 
your organisation.



Thomas Treadwell         CompSoc - GraphPlot               Computerized
Dept. of Psychology             \ /                         Sociometry
West Chester Univ.            __/ \__                  Phone-610-436-2723
West Chester, Pa.    ttreadwe at grouptalkweb.org         FAX-610-436-2846
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                       http://grouptalkweb.org

      A person will sometimes devote all his life to the development of one
      part of his body - the wishbone.  ~~Robert Frost