Question

Several research methods are used to study reference groups and opinion leadership. The method that traces communication patterns among members of a group, thereby allowing researchers to systematically map out the interactions that take place among group members is the

Answer 1

Content analysis

Step-by-step explanation:

The main reason researchers carry out content analysis is because they want to map out interactions and details from an artifact or something the research is carried out on. One of the main tools of achieving this is through the communication patterns. From the passage above, content analysis is the best answer to the question.

Answer 2

The answer is: sociometric research method.

Step-by-step explanation:

Sociometric research techniques, both qualitative and quantitative, have been used since the past centruy to study and map out the social relationships within a group.

They have enabled researchers to describe and analyze patterns of communication and several aspects of group interaction, such as social status and social acceptance. These techniques have often been used to study peer interaction among children in school groups.