Construction of meaning in infant peer-interactions in nursery: Brazilian case studies

Abstract

Non-verbal communication is human infants' first access to the social other, with the existing hypothesis that in their first year of life, the infant interacts, establishes peer-communication, and (co)(de)constructs meaning. However, that phenomenon has been studied mainly in infant relationship with their mother, being necessary researches on other contexts and multiple relationships as the infant-peer relationship in the daycare environment, particularly on the situation of transition from home to the shared chilcare with the nursery. With this question - studying infant-peer (co)(re)(de)construction of meaning processes -, the present project integrates an international multicentre proposal that aims to analyze different aspects in infant transition from home into nursery, which will be held in seven countries (Brazil, Scotland, New Zeland, Australia, Samoa, USA and Finland). Guided by Network of Meanings methodological and theoretical approach, it will be conducted a longitudinal study following the path of three focal infants (initial age of 5 to 8 months) at the nursery with their infant-peer. The records will be taken by a two-hour video recording a day in eight different dates, in one-year course. The analysis process and data discussion will follow the steps: (a) mapping each focal infant's peer interactions; (b) investigating communicative resources in interactions and how meanings are constructed in the communication process; (c) selecting and describing interactive episodes for microgenetic analysis; and (d) bringing dialogue between results and literature data, raising theoretical propositions. The study could contribute theoretically, filling gaps in the literature concerning the theme. Also, it could result in practical benefits for professionals working with infants in collective education environments, besides allowing scientific publication about these processes in collaboration with other cultures, contributing in Brazil to the internationalization of research. (AU)