Abstract:

The processes of democratisation and liberalisation, the declared humanistic philosophy taking place in the present-day society, allow carrying out investigations on children’s culture as a socio-educational phenomenon by employing the methodology of qualitative research. The qualitative research methodology represents the anti-positivist (non-traditional) conception and allows investigating phenomena of children’s culture from their perspective, while interpreting them through the meanings that are given by children themselves.

The article applied the following research methods: analysis of scientific literature, meta-analysis. The methodology of application of free essay writing was theoretically substantiated by the investigation of children’s leisure time and informal learning during summer holidays. The model of the qualitative data analysis that was tested during the empirical research as well as the proceeding and stages of the analysis of surveyed children’s essays are presented. The paper demonstrates how generalising meanings, themes and sub-themes are found out in the course of the analysis of narrative texts of free essays, major notional ideas – statements, which are highly significant for education and counselling of parents and pedagogues (as adults).

The population of the qualitative research sample consisted of 249 children aged 10–12 years. The size of the sample is sufficient for implementation of a qualitative research and deep, intensive but not extensive investigation of the phenomena of children’s culture (in this case, informal learning and leisure time). 166 texts out of 249 children’s essays were selected for the qualitative interpretation of the research data. An ability to characterise in as great detail as possible the phenomenon under investigation was the major criterion for selection. A part of the essays were not dealt with because of their low “saturation” content.

The article not only substantiates the methodology of application of the free essay method but also reveals narrative significance of this method in educational empirical research of a cultural type.

Keywords:

children’s culture research, qualitative research methodology, free essay method