
WHAT IS SOCIOMETRY?
Sociometry is defined as a quantitative method for measuring social relationships. The Latin breakdown of the word offers socius, which means companion and metrum meaning measure. Sociometry was developed by Austrian psychiatrist, Jacob Levy Moreno, (1889-1974). Moreno, who also invented psychodrama, was the foremost pioneer of group psychotherapy and one of leading social scientists of his time, defined sociometry as the "science of group organization." Moreno believed that the human experience is comprised of both individual and interpersonal components, and spent years studying the relationship between social structures and individual psychological well-being. His sociometric concepts were used by the U.S. Navy to help improve morale in the ranks, they were used in the training process and during officer selection. In addition, sociometry provides the basic building blocks of the social network theory which focuses on the interactions within a social structure. Sociometry also forms the basis for Facebook, the social network service, which is based on the interactions of its participants.