Abstract
Pupillary dilation has recently been reported as a physiological measure of degree of attention paid to environmental stimuli (Hess & Polt, 1960, 1964). Hess and Polt's research has operationally defined one variable and has provided data that allow researchers to speculate about several others. This variable is interest-disinterest. The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the relationship between sociometric choice patterns and pupillary behavior. 18 sixth grade Ss completed a sociometric questionnaire in which they indicated 3 friendship and 3 nonfriendship choices. Black and white photographs of each S were made and served as the experimental stimuli. The stimuli were arranged and shown to each S according to his responses to the sociometric questionnaire. No significant differences in pupillary dilation patterns were found among Ss when viewing stimuli depicting friendship choice as opposed to nonfriendship choice. Pupillary dilation to pictures of friends was, on the average, not significantly different from dilation patterns to pictures of nonfriends. Results were discussed in terms of (a) theoretical issues relevant to sociometric choice patterns and (b) the interpretation of pupillary response patterns and their relationship to inquiry in the social sciences.