SIBLINGS

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• SIBLINGS FRIENDS
• The Changing Nature of Childrens Lateral
  Relationships

Ros Edwards and Susie Weller Families Social
Capital Research Group London South Bank
University


SISTERS, BROTHERS FRIENDS PROJECT
YOUR sPACE!
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CORA (wave 1)
Hes just immature. He doesnt act like older
Sometimes hes nice to me, more times just an
idiot He can never say anything sensible I
wish hed go out more and act more like a
teenager Cos Ive sort of grown up more faster
than he is. Hes always been with himself, a
loner He doesnt do anything basically. And
hes just basically hanging around with people
younger than him. Cos you know he never really
asks if he can go up to town Sad act.
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SAMPLE

• Gender
• Female 62
• Male 38
• Ethnicity
• Asian/British Asian 16
• Black/Black British 12
• White/White British 64
• Mixed 8

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PROJECT RESEARCH QUESTIONS

• What are the dynamics of children and young
  peoples ontological connection to, or separation
  from, siblings and friends, and what do these
  relationships mean for age, gender and other
  status hierarchies and boundaries?
• How are these prescribed and chosen relationships
  balanced over time and accommodated with a sense
  of separate self for children and young people
  from different social groups?
• What particular ethical considerations arise in
  the design and conduct of qualitative
  longitudinal research with children and young
  people living in different circumstances? What
  are the specific issues surrounding sample
  maintenance, informed consent, appropriate
  methods of data collection, and researcher
  involvement over time?

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INTERVIEWS ACTIVITIES

• Using talk, and activities such as vignettes,
  network mapping and timelines, the interviews
  explore
• Significant life events ? everyday life.
• Change and continuity in young peoples
  relationships with family members, in particular
  their siblings.
• The significance of friends and friendship.
• Hopes for the future.
• All within the context of everyday life at home,
  at school/college/work and in the local
  community.

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CROSS PROJECT COLLABORATION

• Sisters and brothers UK-wide postcard
  exploration see report at
• www.lsbu.ac.uk/families/brothersandsisters/
• National Child Development Study 1969 essay
  replication
• Imagine you are now 25 years old. Write about
  the life you are leading, your interests, your
  home life and your work at the age
• of 25.

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EMERGING DIMENSIONS OF TIME OVER TIME

• biographical
• generational
• institutional
• space intersections
• imagined

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CORA (wave 2)

• We started getting on probably when I was 15
  or 16, cos a lot of our friends became friends
  with his friends. The group we go about with,
  its all mixed ages Weve both got a lot of
  friends Theres nothing really I dont like
  about having a brother, its fine I kind of
  class him as a friend as well.

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visit
at www.lsbu.ac.uk/families/yourspace/