More about the IZI !
More about the IZI !
current research projects of the  IZI
list of IZI publications
upcoming events
Library
email, mailing adress, fax, phone
IZI homepage in German
back to homepage

 

Scientific Project:

Children's fantasies and children's television?

The Internationales Zentralinstitut für das Jugend- und Bildungsfernsehen, IZI, at the Bayerischer Rundfunk (Bavarian Broadcasting Corporation) conducts a scientific study about children's fantasies this year. It will be investigated amongst others, how they are influenced by the media. (television, books, computer games etc.).

What do typical children's fantasies look like?
According to children's perspective, what kind of ideas/wishes are behind these fantasies?
Which significance has e.g. television manifesting these ideas?
Are there any gender-specific differences?
Are there differences between Eastern and Western Germany?
Do children's fantasies look the same in the USA, Israel and Korea?
Have these fantasies changed in comparison to other generations?

Project parts:

A. What do typical children's fantasies look like?

Typical (basic) fantasies of children (8-9 years old) should be recorded, and a possible link between children's media and especially children's TV described.

According to field studies with 60-80 children (Quota north/south; east/west) children's fantasies and their aesthetic refining are assessed. The methodical approach is based on children's pictures as objects of symbolic processing and of inner images. These will be completed by short essays and theme-centred interviews as well as basic information and evaluation of the educator in charge (IZI).

B. Is there any interrelation of children's fantasies and children's television?

Possible links between children's fantasies and children's media/ television are to be investigated.

  • In order to do this, traces of media in children's pictures and interviews are scrutinised.
  • According to the 'stocktaking of children's television 2001' an annual analysis of about 480 hours of programme ( in co-operation with the University GH Kassel), typical forms of symbolisation of fantasies are investigated in a media-typical analysis ( in co-operation with Prof. Ben Bachmair, University Kassel).

C. Are there any national differences in children's fantasies? How far are they characterised culturally or globally?

In an international comparison, similarities and differences shall be found, as well as the interrelation to children's media, with special focus on children's television. There will be the same research set-up in three other nations. 40 8-9 year-old children will be tested

  • in Washington DC, USA (in co-operation with Amy Aidman, Ph.D., Center for Media Education)
  • in Tel Aviv, Israel (in co-operation with Dafna Lemish, Ph.D., Tel Aviv University)
  • in Seoul, South Korea (in co-operation with Hyesung Moon, Ph.D., and Prof. Ling, Yonsei University)

D. Were there any changes in fantasies, compared with other generations, or do children and young people have the same 'basic fantasies' like young adults and adults today?

In comparison to the children's fantasies, there will be biographical interviews with young adults (university students).

  • 20 students will be investigated (in co-operation with Prof. Lothar Mikos and Elisabeth Prommer, Ph.D., HHF Potsdam-Babelsberg)

More biographic interviews are set up, in order to get some information about people who grew up hardly exposed to any television, but have a strong influence on children's programmes nowadays.

  • 20 decisive creators of German children's programmes will be interviewed, about their own childhood fantasies, and in how far they are reflected in concept of their own programmes (in co-operation with Heike Becker, Osnabrück).

First results have been introduced at IZI's International Conference on December 11th and 12th 2001 in Munich as well as in the review TELEVIZION 14/2001/2 and 15/2002/2. They are published in English and German.


The IZI is an institution of the Bayerischer Rundfunk (Bavarian Broadcasting Corporation, BR)