Extracts from this document...

Introduction

A qualitative study showing how development is affected by significant others, using thematic analysis. Abstract This study examines how development is affected by significant others. An analysis was carried out on a pre-recorded semi-structured interview. The thematic analysis on this interview shows that adults do perceive significant others having an effect on development. Introduction The perspective used by the researcher was Social Constructivist but Bowlbys perspective is Psychodynamic. Social constructionism is basically the idea that who we are is shaped by the people we interact with in social settings, whether family members or people in our social groups/wider society. The ontology in this report is related to attachment theory, i.e. what it is to be human. It will be analysing the themes that are identified. The epistemology used to gain this knowledge will be a semi-structured interview. Method The material I was given to analyse was a dvd of a semi structured interview with Assan (DVD programme 4 : Interviewing and Thematic Analysis. Section 4 : Interview : Assan) and a transcript of the interview which had each line numbered from start to finish. This was pre-recorded data supplied by The Open University. The Open University provided the participant. Assan is a thirty five year old man who grew up in the Middle East but moved to Britain when he was fifteen. The University gained consent from the participant and I can assume that he was thoroughly debriefed and offered the right to withdraw at any time. By using a semi structured interview for this report we get the data in the participant's own words, which is consistent with the ontology (we create meanings with our own words etc) ...read more.

Middle

And my father was a man who travelled a lot, because of his job. He was a merchandiser, so we never stayed in one place for very long. JULIA WILLERTON: Can you say a little more about how the relationship with your father perhaps influenced the later relationships that you've had? ASSAN: My father was someone who always, because of his job, always encouraged us to mix with people and get to know other cultures as well. We come from a Muslim background but I had friends from all different backgrounds, different religions and my father always encouraged us to not be narrow-minded, to be open-minded, to question, to understand, to create a better relationship. And my father encouraged me to sit down and discuss and question, you know, what did I learn at school, so he could understand for himself, and then to encourage me to ask, ask these questions and to be open minded and to get a good idea of the world around us and the way other people might think and what they might feel. So these things are all, all part and parcel of growing up with a father who was open minded, allowed us to question and encourage us to question. I really valued that and enjoyed that relationship with him when he was still ... when he was travelling and sharing his stories with us when he'd come back. JULIA WILLERTON: Can you say a little more about your family and where you were in the context of the family? ASSAN: I come from a large family compared to what you might consider here. There was nine of us, five brothers, four sisters and I'm the youngest. ...read more.

Conclusion

But he, he's someone who very much encouraged, encouraged me and be very supportive and give me encouragement to, to do my job. And always he say to me: you do very good job for me. I want you to go, go more, take more step, take more chance and bring me something that really you think you won't be able to do. So I feel he's someone who has belief in me and who wants to see me do better, but also encouraging but wants me to do better. So I push myself more for him. He is very good within all team, within my work for that, but he very good for me I think. JULIA WILLERTON: Thanks very much for that, Assan, that was great. I'd just like to check, how did taking part in that interview feel for you? ASSAN: I feel I enjoy speaking to you really. I think it make me reflect on me as a person, I feel I'm going to leave the room, having spoken to you, with I suppose things I never think about before. And I think I have more understanding of my own self. So it has been very interesting for me. JULIA WILLERTON: I'd just like to reiterate that the interview's going to be transcribed and, and the details will be changed so that you won't be able to be identified from that, Assan. I'd like you to sign a consent form, simply to say that you understand, really, that the interview is going to be used for research purposes. ASSAN: Okay. JULIA WILLERTON: And thank you very much once again for taking part. ASSAN: No, you are welcome. ?? ?? ?? ?? Katie Young X5224457 TMA05 ...read more.

This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our University Degree Developmental Psychology section.