An investigation of popularity and perception of popularity among schoolchildren of ten and eleven years

Abstract

This study set out to investigate those factors important for social acceptability among groups of Primary schoolchildren of ten and eleven years. An attempt was made to relate theoretical opinions about popular and unpopular children to actual choice behaviour and reputations of classmates. Additional information about self and ideal self was obtained in order to demonstrate that person perception takes place in a coherent framework of baseline values.

Results supported the suggestion that acceptable and unacceptable peers are Judged and described in a manner congruent with expressed opinions. 'Types' of popular child could be tentatively described---the Good Scholar, the Good Fellow, the Good Looker. Unpopular children tended to represent the reverse of these types.

A more detailed examination of the sociometric patterns of popular, unpopular and intermediate children revealed differences in choice behaviour. A popular child characteristically expresses more choices and has one or more close reciprocal friendships. Within a mixed group, a popular child has more contacts with the opposite sex.

This study confirmed the virtual 'sex cleavage' typical of this age group in terms of spontaneous choice behaviour, but reputations are related to rejections and attributions of behavioural characteristics from both sexes and it was concluded that the mixed group is best treated as a single unit.

It was concluded that within the classroom situation approved children are those whose attitudes and behaviour towards teachers, classmates and schoolwork enhance the harmonious functioning and prestige of the group. Hence the boundaries between acceptability, friendship and popularity are not strictly drawn for this age group.