Classroom Choice Status Related to Scores on Components of the California Test of Personality

Abstract

SINCE THE PIONEERING WORK of Moreno (7) and Jennings (4) many sociometric studies have been made. Most of these studies have used elementary, secondary, and college students as subjects. Repre sentative studies have shown a positive relationship to exist between choice status and the following factors: propinquity (8,11); frequency of association (3,9, 10); age (3,12); size (3, 12); intelligence (3, 12); maturity (3); scholarship (12); parental occupation (8); similarity of interests (2); and personality traits (1, 2, 5). Personality data have been obtained by asking students to rate one another on such traits as cheerful, friendly, enthusiastic, etc.; by having students list the qualities they admire in persons chosen as best friends; and by the use of personality tests. The last method has been used less frequently than the other two. Two previous studies (1, 6) have made use of the California Test of Personality. Neither of these studies is strictly comparable to the present study, however, since different choice criteria were used. The criterion of choice in Sister Alexandra's study (1) was election to scout, church or school offices. Choice status in the present study was determined by fre quency of choice as a fellow worker on a classroom committee. It is quite possible that persons chosen as fellow workers would not have the same personality characteristics as those chosen as leaders. This fact should be kept in mind in making comparisons between the two studies. In the study by McClelland and Ratcliff (3) choice status was determined by asking students whom they would choose as companions for fpur varied types of activities.