The purpose of this study is to determine whether elementary school students recognize invisible authenticity in relation to their peers. Furthermore, this study also aims to determine how children’s authenticity helps them form peer relationships. ...
The purpose of this study is to determine whether elementary school students recognize invisible authenticity in relation to their peers. Furthermore, this study also aims to determine how children’s authenticity helps them form peer relationships. A survey targeting 27 fourth-grade elementary school students in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, was conducted. A questionnaire was used to rate the authenticity of classroom peers which was composed of three questions to measure congruence, genuineness, and realness. In addition, the peer nomination method (primarily developed by Moreno) was used to measure the children’s social preference.
The results of this study show that the male children exemplified their authenticity with a social preference of 0.776―a very high correlation coefficient value. The female children showed a social preference of 0.697, which is also a high correlation coefficient value.
These social preference rankings and significant correlation coefficient values show that the degree of authenticity in the classroom affects peer relationships.
Moreover, the results of multiple regression analyses show the impact of realness, congruence, and genuineness, which are sub-concepts of authenticity in social preference. There is a significant influence on congruence to male children and genuineness to female children. This means that a male child prefers a peer who has congruence, and a female child prefers a peer that is genuine. The authenticity cannot be explained as a single sub-concept, but it is meaningful when it is integrated with other sub-concepts. Through this result in particular, the child’s authenticity is achieved through relationships. Therefore, such encounters occur in peer relationships and are based on authenticity. In addition, although the concept of authenticity is invisible, it clearly exists. This is recognized by others and can be found in relationships.
In attempting to deal with problems such as school violence, adolescent suicide, and maladjustment in school, this research aimed to determine whether the authenticity experienced in relationships is meaningful and whether or not such authenticity can be found in classroom encounters, where it aids children’s personal growth rather than declaring that the authenticity itself exists.