NIMH
ID: 1R43MH064208-01A1
PI: MELISSA DEROSIER, PHD
TERM: 04/02 – 09/02

In the study of children’s peer relationships, decades of research have supported sociometric peer nomination methods as a reliable and accurate means of identifying peer problems. Problematic relationships with peers, particularly when chronic, can have a tremendous impact on children’s functioning and mental health. More accurate identification of peer problems will enable schools to take proactive steps to intervene before problems become chronic and intractable. Unfortunately, peer nomination methods for data collection and data entry have traditionally been cumbersome and labor and time intensive. Sociometric analyses have been accomplished through highly complicated statistical programs. These requirements create such barriers that only trained peer relationship researchers have been able to utilize peer sociometric methodology.

The goal of this research was to create a product that includes all the steps needed to complete a sociometric peer nomination assessment through a simple, time-saving process. This product, Sociometric Collection & Analysis (SCAN), was developed including training, software, and manuals for use. Feasibility testing demonstrated the utility of the software and its capacity to help professionals. Additional research supported findings that using SCAN for sociometric measurement results in both greater ability to predict and understand underlying social processes.

SCAN is currently available for purchase at www.selmediainc.com.