Meaning-Making Young Children's Drawings
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MEANING-MAKING IN YOUNG CHILDREN’S DRAWINGS VOLUME 1 J. DEGUARA THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY 2015 MEANING-MAKING IN YOUNG CHILDREN’S DRAWINGS JOSEPHINE DEGUARA THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD APRIL 2015 A man in the rain – by Thea “Drawing can be seen as a meaning-making process in which children draw signs to express their understanding and ideas in a visual-graphic form” - Marit Holm Hopperstad (2008, p.134) Abstract This study investigates the multiple layers of meaning-making young children represent in their drawings. Taking a social semiotics theoretical framework to analyse children’s drawings, this study is designed around four main research questions: to examine the modes children use, the themes they illustrate, the meanings they communicate, and the possible influences that affect their drawings. It is developed around three case studies of four-year old children who attended the same school in Malta. The data were collected over four months, where the three children were encouraged to draw in both the home and school settings. During and post drawing conversations were held with the children and their parents, to bring out the meanings conveyed. The observations and conversations were video-recorded and transcribed. In total, the children drew two hundred, twenty-three drawings. The children’s participation was supported throughout the data collection process: they video-recorded themselves, collated the drawings in display files and provided insightful understandings about their drawings. Developing a simple-complex mode criterion, which was represented on a purposely- created Data Cross-grid, the findings show that the three children had personal preferences in their use of semiotic styles. Findings from the study also illustrate that they drew a broad range of subjects with people, animals, and weather and sky features featuring prominently. The Data Cross-grid also represented a simple- complex theme criterion, where results indicate that the children had different drawing patterns and configurations. Ultimately, the Data Cross-grid provided a unique profile for each child as a drawer. The meanings in the three children’s drawings were complex and extensive. These were reflected in four main distinctive functions: drawing as a constructor of identity, drawing as a communicator of the self, drawing as a processor of knowledge, and drawing as a play process. The children’s drawings were also influenced by a variety of home, school and other community and cultural influences. In conclusion, the study brings out the importance of recognising drawing as a semiotic and visual language children use to process, create and communicate meaning. To my family Acknowledgements I would never have been able to write my doctoral thesis without the guidance, encouragement and support of a number of people: my tutor, colleagues, family and friends. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor, Professor Cathy Nutbrown, for her excellent guidance and encouragement. Your expertise and challenging ways, combined with your enthusiasm and realistic views, were a source of inspiration and motivation to me. Your good advice and humanistic approach at both the academic and personal levels were invaluable and for which I am particularly thankful. I also thank you for your time, patience and care. A thank you is also due to the academic staff on the Malta Team, The School of Education Studies, University of Sheffield, who were always keen to share their knowledge, constructively criticise my work, advice and encourage me. I thank you for your support and dedication. I would like to acknowledge the administrative staff at St Catherine’s High School, Malta, as hosts of the Malta-based post-graduate programmes, who offered a welcoming environment during the study schools. A special thank you goes to Ms Sue Midolo, school principal, not only for providing administrative support but more importantly for her availability to help at all levels. I thank you for your warm and caring attitude, which meant a lot. A note of thanks goes also to the clerical staff at the University of Sheffield, especially Ms Helen Saunders, Ms Felicity Gilligan and Mr David Heymann. Thank you for your prompt replies and for your patience in answering all my queries. Your help was greatly appreciated. I would also like to show my appreciation towards my PhD colleagues, who likewise followed the Malta-based programme. You listened to me, questioned my work and shared my struggles. Having you on board the PhD journey meant that I never felt alone on an otherwise lonely experience. A note of thanks goes also to my colleagues at the Department of Early Childhood and Primary Education, Faculty of Education, University of Malta, who throughout the research process offered advice, shared experiences and were very sympathetic. I also would like to thank Professor Valerie Sollars, Dean of the Faculty of Education and Dr Marie Therese Farrugia, Head of Department, for being always considerate and supportive whenever I needed help. Your understanding made a difference. I appreciate the help and encouragement of several friends. Thanks are due to Dr Gladson Chikwa, who as a good friend, always encouraged, counselled and provided me with his thoughtful feedback and best suggestions. I also would like to thank the Chikwa family for welcoming me in their home at Sheffield. Because of you, Sheffield took a different meaning. I would also like to thank Dr Josephine Milton, for her continuous support and for introducing me to Sheffield and the University of Sheffield campus. You made my first stays in Sheffield interesting and something to look forward to. A note of appreciation goes to Mr Anton Cardona for his reassurance and belief in me. You listened to me during my tribulations and always encouraged me to keep moving forward. To all my colleagues at the ‘Binja’: thank you for your encouragement and words of advice. All your friendships and different ways of support meant a lot during times of hardship. I would also like to thank Mr David Pisani for his help with the video-editing and Mr Luke Soler for his assistance with the graphics of the consent booklet. Due thanks go also to Mr Antoine Vella (Antoine tan-Newl) for welcoming me in his workshop and for very patiently explaining the weaving process in great detail. A very big thank you goes to Luke, Thea and Bertly, the three participant children of my study. It was a privilege to get to know you and an honour to do a study with you. You gave me invaluable insights into your ways of thinking and meaning- making. You challenged me, changed my perspectives and taught me how to listen to you and respect the remarkable ideas of young children. You also taught me the significance of the unremarkable daily episodes and how important these were for you. You also renewed in me an awareness of the responsibility educators have in understanding children’s ways of communication and meaning-making. I am grateful also to their families, who believed in my study, trusted me, and welcomed me in their homes. I appreciate your time, help, openness and confidence. I would also like to thank the Head of School and Kindergarten Assistant who kindly gave me their consent to conduct the study in their school and classroom respectively. Thanks go also to all the children in the class, who accepted me and showed interest in my research. Your enthusiasm in the drawing process taught me the importance of exposing children to meaningful activities. On a more personal note, a big thank you goes to my family: my husband and two children. Your constant support and patience made this thesis possible. Thank you for putting up with my endless talks about my studies, my long nights of writing and for standing by me through the bad times. Your belief in me was a source of motivation. I dedicate this thesis to you: Victor, Maria and Mark. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the financial support for this research. This study was considerably funded by the Malta Government Scholarship Scheme (MGSS) and the University of Malta. Declaration of authenticity I hereby declare that this thesis is my own work. I confirm that no part of this work has been previously submitted, published or presented elsewhere. Any material or work represented in this thesis which is not my own, has been acknowledged and appropriately referenced. This thesis is copyright material. No part of it may be published without permission and adequate acknowledgement. _______________________ Josephine Deguara April, 2015 Table of Contents Epigraph ........................................................................................................................ i Abstract ........................................................................................................................ ii Dedication ................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................... iv Declaration of authenticity ......................................................................................... vii Table of Contents ...................................................................................................... viii List of Tables ..........................................................................................................