Qualitative Study
Initial Thinking
Impact of Learning
Environments
on Well being of Children
Definition of well being
UEF defines well being as the realization
of the physical, emotional, mental, social
and spiritual potential of human being
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Complex- dynamic- changing
subjective
Little research addressed child perspective
of well being
Objectives
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Provide maximum opportunity for us to learn what is on
the hearts and minds of children in relation to the three
learning environments.
Refine our concept of well being through soliciting the
views of children about well being,
Refine our methodologies for accessing information
about the impact of the learning environments on
children' well being.
Prioritize areas of well being that are most relevant to
focus on in quantitative surveys taking into consideration
different factors such as cultures, gender, age groups
and perhaps with different sectors of society.
Provide insights about the indicators of well being that
will be integrated into the quantitative surveys.
Target population
Boys and girls of 15 and 16 years old who
- Representing different types of schools
(private & public sectors or general
education and vocational schools
- Represent as possible the different socioeconomic levels.
Other suggestions are appreciated
Methodology
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12 Focus groups (size 8 students) in West Bank
- 5 boys groups
- 5 girl groups
- 2 mixed groups of boys and girls
45 Individual indepth interviews with students
-5 students to be selected from 3 types of schools
From 3 regions in the West Bank.
Interviewers
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Two trained young interviewers per interview will
conduct the exercise with groups and individuals
interviews.
 One conducts and facilitate and conduct the
interview and the other records, observes and
collect responses.
 A third person will be video and tape recording
the interviews.
 Tape and video recording will be done on few
Indepth group and individual interviews after
obtaining children and their parents consent
Components of the Indepth
Interviews
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Mapping components of the learning
environment.
Exploring views and feelings of students
perception of the impact of each component on
their well being (positive or negative). We could
possibly use emoticons (images) that reflect
their feelingsHow, why such feelings may impact them.
What changes they would like to see that
promote their well being
Their views on the strengths and limitations of
the methodology
Tools of documenting students’
responses
 Tape
recording
 Video recording
 Drawing maps
 Observations
Outcome and limitations
Output:
To draw a new school environment with
aspects that can have better impact their
overall well being.
Issues
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What other tools/techniques you suggest that can help
children express their views freely, safely and
adequately?
 What level of open ended questions we need to use in
soliciting the views of children (broad versus more
specific)?
 How best we can document the views of children?
 What shall be the focus of indepth interviews (on how
the environment impact children well being or what
impact they have on children?
 Can children be involved as researchers as this stage
(e.g. how can we convince children that what they say
won’t be used against them?
 How can we deal with the ethical aspects of the
exercise?
 Individual versus group indepth interviews?