Peer Influence in Elementary School: The Importance of Assessing the Likeability of Popular Children.

We examined the degree to which children perceive influence behaviors and influence over social norms from different types of high-status children to vary in a sample of 453 3 through 5 grade children. Using a cluster analysis of peer-nominated popularity and likeability measures, we identified a seven-cluster solution, including three high-status clusters: , , and . children were perceived as using and having influence over . / children were perceived as using and and influencing over and norms, at a degree similar to children. However, children were not perceived as using or influencing over ; rather, they scored higher than all other status groups for and . children were perceived as using and influencing over at a higher degree than children but at a lower degree than or children. Although the influence associated with likeability alone appeared relatively limited, likeability in conjunction with popularity seems to make a difference regarding influence behaviors and norms. A person-centered approach that takes into account multiple facets of social status is likely to enhance understanding of high-status children's influence on their same-age peers.