SOCIOMETRIC TYPES AND CHILDRENS INTELLIGENCE

This study investigates the relation between intelligence and the curr ently widely used five sociometric types 'popular', 'rejected', 'negle cted', 'controversial' and 'average'. The sample consists of N = 5861 children belonging to 317 third-grade classes. Intelligence was operat ionalized by a combination of three standardized intelligence tests an d a combination of three ratings-corresponding to the three intelligen ce tests-of the pupils' intelligence by their head teachers. Results s how that, regardless of the operationalization of intelligence, there is a positive relation between intelligence and 'popularity', whereas 'rejection' is negatively related to intelligence. For the other three sociometric types ('controversial', 'neglected' and 'average') no rel ation to intelligence can be observed. The discussion stresses the nee d to control the variable 'intelligence' in studies investigating the behavioural and socio-emotional correlates of 'popular' and 'rejected' children.