Thematic Analysis of the Children’s Drawings on Museum Visit: Adaptation of the Kuhn’s Method

Abstract

Researchers are using techniques that allow children to express their perspectives. In 2003, Kuhn developed the method of data collection and analysis which combined thematic drawing and focused, episodic interview. In this article the Kuhn’s method is adjusted using the draw and write technique as a research methodology. Reflections on the technique are drawn from our experience of using it in study with primary school students aged 8 to 10 years. This was part of a larger study undertaken to investigate the relationship between the way younger school-age students perceive the museum and degree of didactic structuring of museum contents. The students are asked to draw a picture showing their museum visit to Museum of Ancient Glass in Zadar and to write a shot text about it. Free written expression of students and their drawings illustrate children’s abilities to convey their opinions when there is an enabling climate created. Analysis of children’s’ drawings has provided insight into the structure of students' perceptions, its orientation and content. At the same time it provided us with the information about the process of perceiving museum exhibits and museum environment by the students who were involved in the pre-visiting curricular activities and those who were not involved in them, as well as the information on students' perception of social interaction and abstract values that can be seen in the drawings.