On Sociometry : The Theory and its Experimental Method

Sociometry, being a scientific branch of relatively recent development, employs an experimental method quite original in itself and which has never been seen in the field of social sciences. And I am confident that the method will give in the future a benificient influence and suggestion to other methodological maneuvor of social sciences in general. In sociometry, an experiment is understood as a method par excellence and not as a mere technique. It should be noticed that sociometry aims at modelling a novel type of experimental method, considering it as a modus vivendi of methodology in social sciences rather than as a simple remodelling from experimental operations of natural science, and thus at opening a new experimental possibility for amelioration of human group. There remains, however, a problem on sociometric results. Although sociometry, by its practicability and productivity, is confident and optimistic enough to be able to create a better community, the group therapy and the adjustment of human relations actually operated by sociometry are, after all considerations, frankly to de criticized as superficial and ineffective. Such deplorable circumstance comes from the fact that sociometry arbitrarily treats its sociometric interpersonal and intergroup relations derived through individual observation as the basis of all social phenomena, so that it can not deal with the relation of global society versus individual, and also from the fact that operations of sociometry is restricted by its own narrowness of purpose. From this point of view, there are inevitably some limits in utilizing the results of sociometry. Thus the sphere where the sociometry's therapy can most effectively be practised are only those groups with homogenized social background. Nevertheless, such limitation of the product of sociometry does not obscure to the importance and value of the essential experimental method of sociometry. Its positive intention and practicability to operate and adjust human relations as well as its scientific attitude in the capacity of a science concerning human action to establish a method of experiment in substatial and unified conbination between the subject and the object will surely furnish a new problem and hope to the methodology of social sciences in general. And the science that strives to operate and control social human relations based upon such methodological consciousness can not fail to accumulate a lasting merit in its method and technique inspite of its historical restriction of the age.