Introduction
I am interested in gender and to what extent people use it to define who they are and how they behave. This interest has grown as I have learned that it does not necessarily need to be used to define who someone is and I have become more aware of the complex theories and ideas that surround gender. I am particularly interested in how children understand gender and if they allow it to define who they are. It is widely acknowledged that children begin to create their own understanding and ideas of gender from a very young age (Martin & Ruble, 2004) and from this, by 3-5 years old children can start to create their own personal gender identity which they use to construct stereotypes (Aina & Cameron, 2011).
Chapman (2016) explains …show more content…
Are boys or girls more likely to exhibit stereotypical behaviour when selecting gender roles in drama and imaginative play?
In what ways do children allow those around them (i.e. peers) to influence their choices and behaviours?
Research Design
Data Collective Methods:
Observations: I will conduct a full class lesson and will observe every child within the class, ensuring that there is both boys and girls. The lesson will be a drama lesson exploring the ways in which children play when presented with stimulus and asked to create a character. This character must have an identity; i.e. a job; hobbies, interests etc. The children will be provided with props and costumes to help them to create their character. The data collected will be qualitative and will focus on the children’s behaviour and interactions with the stimulus provided to make create a character to play as, as well as looking at the actual character that each child creates. I will take pictures of the children as their characters and whilst they are playing so that I can show it to them later in the interview process and be able to analyse the situation and interactions with one another. My observations of the children’s imaginative play will allow me to identify any children, which display emphasised stereotypical behaviour or behaviour, which is in no way stereotypical, and this will allow me to select interview …show more content…
The descriptive nature of my notes in the observations will allow me to consider the context of the task when looking at the children’s behaviours and help to fully understand there meanings (Simpson & Tuson, 1995). My interviews will be semi-structured and recorded, I want the children to feel comfortable enough to talk feely with me and not feel like they have to answer in a certain way. All of my interviews will be transcribed and analysed with a focus on my specific research question and the emerging themes from the interview will be identified and considered. In partaking in a qualitative interview, I can get a greater understanding of the children point of view and their ideas (Bryman, 2008). The use of qualitative research enables me to interpret the data fully and get a better understanding of the children’s views on gender and gender roles (Boejie,
I am interested in gender and to what extent people use it to define who they are and how they behave. This interest has grown as I have learned that it does not necessarily need to be used to define who someone is and I have become more aware of the complex theories and ideas that surround gender. I am particularly interested in how children understand gender and if they allow it to define who they are. It is widely acknowledged that children begin to create their own understanding and ideas of gender from a very young age (Martin & Ruble, 2004) and from this, by 3-5 years old children can start to create their own personal gender identity which they use to construct stereotypes (Aina & Cameron, 2011).
Chapman (2016) explains …show more content…
Are boys or girls more likely to exhibit stereotypical behaviour when selecting gender roles in drama and imaginative play?
In what ways do children allow those around them (i.e. peers) to influence their choices and behaviours?
Research Design
Data Collective Methods:
Observations: I will conduct a full class lesson and will observe every child within the class, ensuring that there is both boys and girls. The lesson will be a drama lesson exploring the ways in which children play when presented with stimulus and asked to create a character. This character must have an identity; i.e. a job; hobbies, interests etc. The children will be provided with props and costumes to help them to create their character. The data collected will be qualitative and will focus on the children’s behaviour and interactions with the stimulus provided to make create a character to play as, as well as looking at the actual character that each child creates. I will take pictures of the children as their characters and whilst they are playing so that I can show it to them later in the interview process and be able to analyse the situation and interactions with one another. My observations of the children’s imaginative play will allow me to identify any children, which display emphasised stereotypical behaviour or behaviour, which is in no way stereotypical, and this will allow me to select interview …show more content…
The descriptive nature of my notes in the observations will allow me to consider the context of the task when looking at the children’s behaviours and help to fully understand there meanings (Simpson & Tuson, 1995). My interviews will be semi-structured and recorded, I want the children to feel comfortable enough to talk feely with me and not feel like they have to answer in a certain way. All of my interviews will be transcribed and analysed with a focus on my specific research question and the emerging themes from the interview will be identified and considered. In partaking in a qualitative interview, I can get a greater understanding of the children point of view and their ideas (Bryman, 2008). The use of qualitative research enables me to interpret the data fully and get a better understanding of the children’s views on gender and gender roles (Boejie,