Structural properties of groups, 1976-1978: File 77m

This research is concerned with the development and validation of sociometric indices of the structural properties of groups. The 1976 study contained general questions about the group, its members, and the respondents' activities in relation to them. Sixteen questions were used to create interpersonal rating matrices from which sociometric measures of status differentiation, bias differentiation, status-bias concordance and differential mutuality were constructed. Scale analysis of 36 questions gave homogeneous and distinct scales of member heterogeneity, rejection of group, and permeability. In the 1977 study, six structural properties - consensus, role differentiation, fragmentation, status differentiation, solidarity and permeability - were measured by quantitative sociometric procedures. Consensus was measured in two ways: by means of an open question and with 28 statements about desirable behaviours. Two questions were used to determine role differentiation, four questions for fragmentation, five questions for status differentiation and two questions for solidarity. A second instrument containing statements that described the group directly on these five structural properties, among other characteristics, was administered both to group member and to outside informants. An index of permeability was determined by the rate of membership turnover reported by members for the previous year. Groups in the 1978-79 study were given an abbreviated form of the 1977 questionnaire to allow differences among group types to be examined.

本研究旨在开发并验证群体结构属性的社会计量指数（sociometric indices）。1976年的研究包含关于群体、群体成员及受访者与上述对象相关活动的一般性问题。研究使用16个问题构建人际评分矩阵（interpersonal rating matrices），并从中生成地位分化（status differentiation）、偏见分化（bias differentiation）、地位-偏见一致性（status-bias concordance）及差异互反性（differential mutuality）的社会计量测度指标。对36个问题的量表分析得到了成员异质性（member heterogeneity）、群体排斥（rejection of group）及渗透性（permeability）的同质且独特的量表。1977年的研究通过定量社会计量程序（quantitative sociometric procedures）测量了六项结构属性：共识性（consensus）、角色分化（role differentiation）、碎片化（fragmentation）、地位分化、团结性（solidarity）及渗透性。共识性的测量采用两种方式：一是通过开放式问题，二是通过28个关于理想行为的陈述。研究使用2个问题测定角色分化，4个问题测定碎片化，5个问题测定地位分化，2个问题测定团结性。此外，研究还向群体成员及外部知情者发放了第二种工具，该工具包含直接描述上述五项结构属性及其他特征的陈述。渗透性指数通过成员报告的上一年度成员流动率确定。1978-1979年的研究向群体发放了1977年问卷的简化版本，以考察不同群体类型间的差异。