SOCIOMETRY AND THE THEORY OF DATA

Abstract

The development of sociometric techniques has demonstrated a peculiarity of measurement in social science. Mechanical models, e.g. gravity models, can explain relationships between members from characteristics of the subjects (position, mass) only. In social measurements, the unit of measurement can be a relationship between two subjects, which is in principle not derivable from the characteristics of the two subjects taken separately. Thus, a sociogram can be related to characteristics of members, but it cannot be completely explained by them. In this way, sociometry has established its claim of being a method indigenous to social science.