Shapiro, Bonnie L.

Istead, Laura L.

Kool, Richard

Boydell, Anthony

Intergenerational eco-education: an exploration of child influence or parental environmental behaviour.

Colwood

2009

Colwood, Univ, ETD, 2009

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Abstract: This research investigates the nature of the influences children have on their parents' environmental behaviour following involvement in a week long environmental education experience. Using the grounded theory method, children and their mothers were interviewed about their ideas about the ways they felt the children influenced their parents. Four of the five children interviewed reported that they influenced their parents, citing examples of environmental action in the home as an area of influence. Similarly, the majority of parents felt their environmental knowledge and behavior was influenced by their children. What appear to be barriers to effective child-to-parent influence communication are explored, including aspects of program enjoyment and relationships between family members. The theme of child confidence and its relationship to child-to-adult influence is also considered. Areas for future research are identified, including a recommendation for research into the child-to-father influence relationship.

Title page
Abstract
Table of contents

Chapter 1: Introduction
Rethinking Relationships
Significance of Intergenerational Research
Studies of Intergenerational Learning
Research Questions
Study Delimitations
Study Limitations
Researcher´s Perspective

Chapter 2: Literature Review
Adult-to-child Influence Research
Child-to-adult Influence Research: In the Beginning
An International Report
Knowledge, Attitude and Barriers
Summary of the Early Research
Intergenerational Research in the New Millennium
Summary of the Latest Research

Chapter 3: Methodology
Grounded Theory and Intergenerational Learning
Research Partner
Participants
Ethical Considerations
Data Collection
Inquiry Collection
Child Questions
Adult Questions
Data Collection Methods
Data Credibility, Auditability and Fittingness
Data Analysis
Initial Coding
Line-by-line Coding
Comparative and Reconstructive Coding

Chapter 4: Research Results
Children?s Perception of Influence
Areas of Influence
Methods and Strategies Influence
Choice of Teaching Strategy
Feelings about Influence
Child Participant Observation
Summary of children?s perception of influence
Parent?s Understanding of Influence
Areas of Influence
Parent?s Ideas about the Methods of Influence
Summary of Parent Interviews
Children, Adults and Program Participation
The Influence of the Open Minds Program
The Children?s Ideas on the Open Minds Program
Sharing the Experience with Elders
The Parents Views

Chapter 5: Discussion and Implications
Influence and Children
Program Enjoyment andActivities
Family Communication Factors
Self-confidence and Intergenerational Influence
Parent-Child-Teacher Influence Dynamic
Adult Influence Relationship
Prior Knowledge, Parent Profession and Child Status
Researcher Effect
The Open Minds Program and Intergenerational Learning
The Children?s Open Minds Program Experiences
Parent Reflections

Chapter 6: Research Recommendations and Conclusion
Conclusion

References
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C

↑ http://hdl.handle.net/10170/103