An Investigation into children's perceptions of the reality of television

Abstract

This thesis occupies an uneasy space: not within or even at the leading edge of any one tradition, but in the anomalous and almost unoccupied space in which three traditions fail to connect. In keeping with this standpoint, it employs a range of approaches from a cross-paradigm perspective. It draws the main hypothesis that it tests from the cognitive developmental paradigm and develops its main methodological tools from methods of discourse analysis, supplemented by a variety of other instruments, quantitative as well as qualitative. This thesis makes five main claims: (1). Modality judgements, issues and perceptions in relation to television programme content are significant elements in a complex, active and creative process of learning for children in the contemporary world. (2). Children's modality judgements and processes of understanding are significantly different from those of adults in important respects. (3). A further significant developmentally-related phenomenon that emerges from the data is the importance of moments of rupture in developing modality schema and strategies. (4). Children's programme preferences, as refracted through modality structures and strategies typical of different ages, reflect a coherent learning context in which children tackle modality experiences, problems and dilemmas that are well suited to their needs at that point in their development. (5). Children's talk about issues of modality is also a species of social action, in and through which children position and reposition themselves in a variety of social contexts, constructing not only maps and versions of the world, but versions of their selves and tactics to maintain their specific interests. Many of the generalisations in this thesis are still tentative, in need of further development. Some of them, however, are more solidly grounded and would be able to contribute to current debates in education and public life on the role and functions of television in the lives of children.

Date of Award	1997
Original language	English