Sociogram Technique: Mapping Social Relations for Action

Techniques for Organizing Participation and Encouraging Creativity

The Sociogram: Mapping Social Relations for Action

The sociogram is a graphical representation of social relations present at a given time between a set of actors (governments, associations, groups, and sectors of the population). Understanding this plot is crucial for developing effective action strategies. A participatory practice that has yielded good results is producing the map of relations with the research collaborators themselves within the group. The dynamics method is simple:

1. Explain the rules of the game, defining what a sociogram is, what it does, and how it is drawn.
2. The moderator displays a large sheet of paper, provides pens, and establishes a point of reference on the paper (for example, one of the groups or actors present in the session).
3. Starting from this reference actor, participants will map relationships with other groups, institutions, and basic social groups (e.g., youth, neighbors, women). Once the dynamic is underway, the facilitator should not interfere with the development, allowing participants to model the technique according to their preferences and needs.

4. Among the rules indicated, it is appropriate to reflect on three key elements:

   • Reference to the source or exercise of power (e.g., an administration).
   • Associational reference agents (the various groups or organizations).
   • Reference to the social base (groups within the population).

   These levels can be represented by distinct geometrical figures or colors. The composition may be structured in the form of a pyramid, placing power at the top and the social base below.

5. The analysis of social maps allows us to identify direct and indirect relations among stakeholders, examining the qualities of these relationships:

   • Intensity
   • Strength
   • Conflict
   • The types of contacts maintained (e.g., economic, exchange, solidarity, patronage).

6. Another analysis approach is called Positional Analysis. Once the social discourses circulating about the situation have been established, this analysis focuses on the assignments made by actors to characterize homogeneous positions within the map.