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

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.

本研究聚焦于群体结构属性的社会计量指标（sociometric indices）的构建与验证。1976年的研究包含针对群体、其成员以及受访者相关活动的一般性问题。研究采用16道问题构建人际评定矩阵，据此构建了地位分化（status differentiation）、偏向分化（bias differentiation）、地位-偏向一致性（status-bias concordance）以及互依性差异（differential mutuality）的社会计量测度。对36道问题开展量表分析后，得到了成员异质性（member heterogeneity）、群体排斥（rejection of group）以及群体渗透性（permeability）的同质且独立的量表。1977年的研究则通过量化社会计量程序，对六项结构属性——群体共识（consensus）、角色分化（role differentiation）、群体分裂（fragmentation）、地位分化（status differentiation）、群体团结性（solidarity）以及群体渗透性（permeability）——进行了测度。其中，群体共识采用两种方式测度：一道开放式问题，以及28道关于理想行为的陈述题；角色分化通过2道问题测度，群体分裂通过4道问题测度，地位分化通过5道问题测度，群体团结性则通过2道问题测度。另有一套包含直接描述群体五项结构属性及其他特征的陈述题的调研工具，同时向群体成员与外部知情者发放。群体渗透性指标通过成员报告的上一年度成员流动率来确定。1978-1979年的研究则采用1977年问卷的精简版本，以考察不同群体类型之间的差异。