MEASURING PEER INTERACTIONS USING THE ADOLESCENT SOCIAL-INTERACTION PROFILE

A structured diary was used to collect information about the informal peer interactions of 536 children in their final year at nine primary schools, and the findings compared with those from a previous survey o f 328 children in their first year at four high schools. Measures of s elf-concept, locus of control, and social avoidance were also collecte d for both groups. Factor analysis of the data across the two samples produced the some four factors. These were labelled self-concept; and scale, scope, and enjoyment of social interactions. Popularity emerged as a fifth factor with the inclusion of additional sociometric data t hat were only collected for the primary school children. There were fe w cohort differences across samples on measures of self-concept or loc us of control, although the older children reported greater social avo idance and higher scores on measures reflecting the scale and scope of their peer interactions. Other results indicated few consistent gende r differences, except that girls reported greater anxiety in both samp les. The findings are discussed within the context of identifying chil dren at risk for rejection or isolation from their peers.