Entre crianças : meio ambiente, mídia e formação sociocultural

Abstract

This research analyzes the influence of cartoons in the constitution of pro-environmental behaviors of children (six to eleven years old). The aim was to identify and understand children's opinions, beliefs and explanations regarding environmental cartoons. The central themes researched were the notions of sustainability, conservation, preservation and future of the planet. Ethnomethodology was the theoretical-methodological approach adopted for the development of the research. Methodological procedures involved strategies common to ethnomethodology: disruption experiments, studies done by researchers of their own practices and their creation of meaning, use of field methods to study natural situations and record and transcribe ordinary activities. The main data collection instruments used were: direct observation, participant observation, informal conversations, interviews, video recordings, projection of recorded material for the research participants themselves, audio recordings, field notes, as well as discussions with the participants. The results pointed out that the television media is a means of communication of recurrent use among children. Thus, it is explicit that, children like and watch cartoons of environmental themes, critically analyze the conduct in defense and/or conservation of the environment in each episode and refer to the actions of characters in daily life. Finally, cartoons exert influence on the construction of environmental self-reference and on the dissemination of pro-environmental behavior to the target public investigated.