Sociometric Assessment of Social Integration of Students From Culturally Diverse Backgrounds at a Nonresidential University

Abstract

First-year dentistry students performed a series of structured sociometric activities. The purpose of these exercises was to facilitate social integration of these groups. Because of the high level of cultural diversity in the student groups, the initial activities were designed to address this issue of diversity and difference. The subsequent activities addressed cultural similarities and then progressed to address social differences and similarities at more personal and intimate levels. The effectiveness of the intervention was assessed by measuring sociometric differences between the experimental and control groups, using a computerized sociometry program named COMPSOC. With the measures used, the therapists determined that there was no significant difference between the groups on measures of social, gender, cultural or academic integration, or persistence/withdrawal behavior. Although there was not a greater number of relationships among the students, there were suggestions of a stronger quality in these relationships.