Interview Questions
In order to consider the features of the child’s development at different stages of life, direct interaction with the subject is required to obtain the comprehensive picture of his or her perception of the world and cognitive skills. As objects for analysis, two participants will be interviewed, and their results will be analyzed. Two age groups are covered for this purpose: middle childhood and adolescence. The first participant is a boy of 7, and the following series of questions will be offered to him:
- Do you like watching the outside world and nature changes?
- How often do you communicate with your friends at school and at home?
- Do you often spend time with your parents or you prefer to stay alone?
- Do you have any fears that worry you and cause anxiety?
- Where do you usually feel comfortable – at school or at home?
Another participant is a boy, a 14-year-old adolescent who is supposed to answer a series of questions related to cognitive development and communication skills:
- Have you ever had ideas about living separately from your parents?
- Are you satisfied with the amount of information that you receive at school and in everyday life?
- Can you call your relationships with your peers positive and friendly?
- Have you ever experienced feelings that you could not share with anyone?
- Can conflicts with parents affect your perception of the family and its members?
Observations of the Interviews
The responses of the 7-year-old participant are analyzed in accordance with the assessment of communication skills and the perception of the surrounding world. Based on the results of the interview, the child takes an active interest in learning and gaining knowledge. As the respondent notes, communication with friends both at school and at home is frequent and causes positive feelings. The boy argues that spending time with the parents is pleasant and appreciates weekends when all the family members have fun. The respondent denies having any fears and argues that the only worry is caused by the lessons of mathematics. The child feels more comfortable at home, but he is not troubled at school and understands the importance of education.
The responses of the adolescent prove that he experiences some difficulties with adaptation in society and does not always find a common language with peers and parents. The boy argues that the thoughts of living separately from his parents have already come to his mind. He is not worried about the volume of information available, but he is concerned about relationships with some peers, in particular, with female classmates. The adolescent confirms that he has some secrets that he cannot share with anyone. Also, the respondent notes that periodic conflicts with family members affect his perception of family values negatively and cause him to feel irritated.
Age Groups Comparison
Based on the result of two interviews, it can be noted that the participant who belongs to the category of middle childhood is more satisfied with life than the adolescent. According to Steinberg et al., any child is subject to the influence of external factors, including the impact not only on health but also the world perception (78). In this regard, when taking into account the two participants’ answers, it can be noted that the accumulated experience of the adolescent is associated with his communication and cognitive skills significantly. The 7-year-old child does not have enough knowledge about the world and does not see many nuances that can affect his relationships with peers and parents. Therefore, the external environment and experience are the essential components of child development.
Work Cited
Steinberg, Laurence, et al. Development: Infancy Through Adolescence. Cengage Learning, 2010.