Girls' stories of resolving problems in their friendships
Date
1996
Authors
Gook, Carolyn Joy Victoria
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Abstract
This study describes the stories of grade five girls' experiences resolving problems in their friendships. The themes of friendship, social competence and problem solving interventions formed the basis of the research question and the conceptual framework. Research methodology was based on qualitative, semi-structured interviews that incorporated a feminist perspective. Four pairs of girls were involved in the study. A series of interviews with each pair of girls lead to findings that within each of the friendships when fights or disagreements happened, the girls separated from each other, spent time apart and later reconnected in order to re-establish their friendship. This process of problem solving was based on the importance of friendship. The girls' shared history and knowledge of each other, caring that was both given and received and willingness to be an ongoing member in the friendship provided the structure within which problems were resolved.