Research on the structure of values of 6-7 years old children

Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, 344006, Russia

^* Corresponding author: aaosipova@sfedu.ru

Abstract

The article presents the results of the study of the value structure of 6-7 years old children. The relevance of the study is caused by the role that childhood has on subsequent human development. The basic values that determine human development are formed at the age of 7 years. However, the study of the value sphere of children presents a number of difficulties - the limited methods and techniques that allow us to explore the value sphere of children, the closeness of the family for scientific research, the insufficient social experience of the child himself, differences in the level of communicative development of children and a number of other difficulties and restrictions. At the same time, the use of various research methods - projective, standardized, observations provides empirical data on the structure of values of 6-7 years old children. Both projective and standardized techniques were used in the study. The results show that the development of the value sphere in children 6-7 occurs very unevenly: from complete amorphism to the presence of a clear hierarchical structure. There are confirmed differences in the structure of preferred values among boys and girls. Girls aged 6-7 choose values related to the communicative sphere, while boys of this age are guided by values that are active character.