General discussion
The association between classroom seating and children’s peer status was examined in two studies
with independent samples. Study 1 examined how teacher-determined seating arrangements were
related to ratings of likeability and popularity. It appeared that children were less liked when they
sat toward the boundaries of the classroom at the beginning of the year. No associations between teacher-
determined seating and children’s level of popularity were found. However, seating arrangements
were associated with likeability and popularity at the dyadic level. Classmates who sat
closer to each other liked each other more and perceived each other as more popular. These results
indicate that being physically close to specific classmates in a teacher-designed seating arrangement
is important for the way classmates perceive each other.