The beginning of the school year was also marked by positive associations between seating
arrangements and popularity. When classmates sat closer to each other at the beginning of the year,
they perceived each other as more popular at that time. However, this association did not last, nor
were seating arrangements during early spring related to popularity. Again, this may indicate that
seating arrangements are more important when relationships are emerging than when they are established.
Timing might be especially important for popularity because popularity is a measure of impact
and reputation rather than a personal preference (Cillessen & Marks, 2011; LaFontana & Cillessen,
2002). When the group has agreed on who is popular and who is not, seating arrangements might
no longer affect individual or group judgments.