Sociometric Stars as Isolates

Abstract

Conventional sociometric diagrams represent "stars" or leaders as the persons most often chosen as the center of a circle of admiring friends. When the data of such heuristic diagrams consist of (I) number of incoming choices; (2) number of outgoing choices; and (3) social status scores or some other rating, and are plotted in a three-dimensional model, instead of drawn on a two-dimensional flat surface, the "stars" no longer appear as in the center but as on the periphery of the total group structures. Thus, in social space (not mere direction of choices), "stars" conform to Cooley's concept of the isolation of the leader.