USING THE 5 FIELD MAP TO DESCRIBE THE SOCIAL NETWORK OF CHILDREN - A METHODOLOGICAL STUDY

There is a persistent need to find usable ways of measuring social net work and support for children. Up to now virtually nothing is known ab out the social network from the child's viewpoint. In order to evaluat e whether drawing a structured social network map (the Five Field Map) could serve as a way of elucidating important aspects of the social w orld of children, the maps of different samples of children were studi ed. In a school class of 27 children, aged 11 years, a test-retest stu dy was undertaken. The essential aspects of the map showed good stabil ity over time. The map was compared with other instruments of social i nteraction in different samples. Predicted associations were found in the nonclinical samples. Aspects of the map measuring dissatisfaction, negative contacts, and conflicts were found to be associated with beh aviour problems. The closeness factor of the map and reported dissatis faction and conflicts differentiated a normal group of children living in single-parent families from a similar group of children with psych iatric problems, The Five Field Map contributes important knowledge ab out how children perceive their social world. It can thus be considere d a suitable instrument to describe the social network from the child' s point of view.