POPULAR AND INTELLIGENT - REJECTED AND DU MB - A SOCIOMETRIC STUDY WITH 6500 PRIMARY-SCHOOL CHILDREN

This study investigates the relationship between general intelligence and two sociometric measures (popularity and rejection). The sample co nsists of N = 6564 fourth-graders (average age: 8.8 years) from 389 cl asses. General intelligence is operationalised via a combination of th ree standardised intelligence tests. Results show that popularity and rejection correlate moderately negatively (r = -.39) and that the rela tionship between intelligence and popularity is positive and between i ntelligence and rejection negative. The comparison of sociometric extr eme groups reveals differences in intelligence of 13 IQ points for pop ularity and 11 IQ points for rejection. The discussion stresses the ne ed to control the variable <<intelligence>> in studies investigating t he correlates of sociometric status, the close relationship between ge neral verbal intelligence and social intelligence as a possible explan ation for the reported findings, and the <<big>> consequences of <<sma ll>> correlations for extreme groups.