Research with Young Children: The Use of an Affinity Group Approach To Explore the Social Dynamics of Peer Culture

Autor/in	Keddie, Amanda
Titel	Research with Young Children: The Use of an Affinity Group Approach To Explore the Social Dynamics of Peer Culture
Quelle	In: British Journal of Sociology of Education, 25 (2004) 1, S.35-51 (17 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0142-5692
Schlagwörter	Peer Groups; Young Children; Males; Masculinity; Foreign Countries; Gender Issues; Group Dynamics; Social Environment + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Gleichaltrigengruppe; Peer Group; Frühe Kindheit; Male; Männliches Geschlecht; Männlichkeit; Ausland; Geschlechterfrage; Gruppendynamik; Soziales Umfeld
Abstract	This paper describes the research approach of a case study ethnography. The study sought to explore the peer group understandings of five male friends aged between six and eight years. In exploring the social dynamics of peer culture, and in particular how these dynamics interacted to define, regulate and maintain particular understandings of masculinity, the study's research approach drew on Mackay's (1993) affinity group method. This method of grouping people of similar interest and engaging them in discussion aims to promote a sense of group cohesion, which encourages the participants to speak with openness about their ideas, interpretations and feelings (Hickey & Fitzclarence, 2000). The intimate and informal context facilitates the identification of shared and contradicting stories, ideas and understandings through clarifications, negotiations and confirmations. Within a description of the study's methodological framework, this paper outlines how this approach was adopted and modified for young children. The affinity group approach is presented as useful in exploring the social dynamics, relevances, complexities and subtleties of peer culture. (Author).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10