The basis of student peer group structure 1

Abstract

This paper reports on research in which sociometric and other questionnaire data as well as interview data were collected from fourteen year-old pupils in two comprehensive secondary schools in the West Midlands. The following central questions are addressed: (a) whether friendship choices are influenced by residential location and/or school organisation factors, (b) whether friendship choices are homogeneous with respect to attitudes toward school, and (c) whether friendship choices are homogeneous with respect to job status aspirations.

The quantitative data are analysed using a recently developed statistical technique, CHOICE, which enables one to multivariately relate (categorical and/or ranked) variables to sociometric-type responses. The quantitative findings are supplemented and clarified by reference to qualitative data collected in the group interviews. Conclusions reached are that peer group structure is most importantly influenced by school organization, while attitudes toward school and job status aspirations (except at the extremes of the continua) are not important bases of friendship choices. Implications for theory, research, and policy/practice are discussed.