Abstract

BUSTAMANTE, Laura Andrea. Parents in the search of a "good school". A social presentation study based on Grounded Theory. Cultura representaciones soc [online]. 2016, vol.10, n.20, pp.187-207. ISSN 2007-8110.

This study is the result of a research project carried out from 2012 to 2013. Using a qualitative design focused on the constant comparative method, distinctive of Grounded Theory, we have attempted to account for the representations that parents with children in elementary school age have about the school. Our interest was to explore, describe and interpret the ideas and images associated with the school: what is valued and what is expected of it? Since the purpose of this study is to describe and illustrate the meanings that society assigns to the school, the core of the analysis is the social actors who are considered to be in a close and continuing relationship with it, but placed on the external side of the object: the parents of schoolchildren. Using the concept of representation we have tried to explore the values, attitudes, beliefs and opinions that parents of school children have about the school. The main research question that guided this study is: What are the representations of parents about this educational institution? Which necessarily gives origin to other questions aimed at addressing the above: what do they expect from a school? What do parents value of it? What do they consider to be desirable? What is their notion of an ideal school? How do they describe a "good school"? Finally, this study is an attempt to explore the representational schemes of parents taking into account that these will act as constraints for their selection and evaluation.

Keywords : School; Representations; Parents; Grounded Theory.