Project
About the project
The project explored how the daily practices of childhood changed under the influence of COVID-19 in Ukrainian cities. To this end, the project team conducted a socio-anthropological study using the latest methods such as remote ethnography, mapping and videography done by the children themselves. The research results document what changes have taken place due to quarantine restrictions in the following areas of children's lives: formal and non-formal education, games and leisure, life at home and away from home, relationships with family and friends.
The data will be of interest to anyone who works with or is concerned for the welfare of children.
The project was implemented with the financial support of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation.
The project includes a socio-anthropological study, a research diary, a public presentation of the results in the form of an analytical report, a presentation of a simplified version of the same on this website, and an online presentation in October, 2021.
Research Diary on the Children's Geographies page
For questions and suggestions, email us at culturalgeos@gmail.com.
Methodology
The research focused on the daily lives of children of three distinct age groups (9-11, 12-14 and 15-16 years) and s their respective transformations under the influence of the new conditions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic (online learning, social distancing, illness of the nearest, etc.).
During the desk stage, the project team analyzed existing research on the effects of COVID-19 on children in Ukraine and other countries. This stage included an analysis of sources and literature on the anthropology and sociology of childhood more broadly. Preliminary work of this nature encouraged current scientific approaches to the analysis of empirical data, and accordingly furnished the necessary basis for the ethical standards and requirements of sociological and anthropological research with children.
The qualitative stage involved conducting an anthropological study of children’s daily practices during the pandemic in Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv and Lviv (remote ethnography and in-depth interviews). Immersion in children’s everyday lives provided ample material to analyze differences attributable to local cultural contexts. Due to the need for social distancing, the study was conducted online online tours, videos and online diaries). Interviews were conducted via Telegram, Viber, and Zoom.
The quantitative stage made it possible to check the extent to which the data obtained during the qualitative study is typical for children from different cities in Ukraine. Thus, with the help of a telephone survey conducted by a project partner, the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), 1,000 respondents aged 9-16 in large and medium-sized cities submitted information.