The project results were published in the theses of Psychologists Merve Özgüle and Çimen Güldöker, under the respective titles “Children's Perceptions of Violence in Daily Life: Quality Analysis of Children's Verbal and Narrative Expressions” and “Children's Perceptions of Violence in Urban Life”.

Merve Özgüle, Children's Perception of Violence in Daily Life: A Qualitative Analysis of Children's Verbal Expressions and Stories

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to explore children’s perceptions, experiences and conceptualizations of violence as they encounter in their daily life. Our sample composed of 27 children aged 10 to 12 years who were living in Tarlabaşı, one of the disadvantaged areas in the center of İstanbul, Turkey. Children attended workshops exploring their daily experiences with different forms of violence. Their verbal expressions in these meetings and the story writings were examined through qualitative analyses. In addition, quantitative analysis was conducted for 9-item Children’s Experience Survey that was given to both children and mothers. Children reported feeling bad more frequently in school, feeling frightened more frequently in neighborhood, and feeling peaceful more frequently at home. Mothers were found to underestimate the frequency of children’s negative experiences in three environments. Qualitative analysis of sessions revealed that children predominantly discussed more instances of physical violence. Peer relations and school environment were the most frequently mentioned domains of violence that involved physical and relational violence. Neighborhood was described as a frightening atmosphere with examples of political violence and environmental issues. Children’s negative and positive experiences were also analyzed. Stories revealed that self-blame, justification of violence and lack of appropriate adult role models were the risk factors for continuing cycle of violence. In addition, stories reflected that raising awareness and empathy capacity of both victims and perpetrators are the key factors of violence resolution. Implications and limitations were discussed.

Çimen Güldöker, Youths' Perception of Violence in Urban Life

ABSTRACT: This study is a part of the larger project conducted at Tarlabaşı Community Center (TTM). The aim of this study is to focus on adolescents’ (13-15 age group) perception of violence in different context (home, school, neighborhood). Participants living in Tarlabaşı, attended to two sessions (verbal focus group, and a workshop where photo elicit technics were used). In total 13 (12 girls, 1 boy) participants attended to focus group; 10 participants presented 75 photographs. The datas from two sessions were evaluated by content analysis and thematic analysis methods. According to the results, the highest perceived type of violence is environmental violence (51 %, violence is experienced mostly at schools (%37,1) and the neighborhood (%38,7). 28,5 % of the examples presented by the participants related to peer interactions that entailed violence .Participants verbal expressions were also coded for negative experiences, which were defined as detrimental events that could not be defined as violence but had significant negative role in adolescents’ life.. Sexism was the most commonly expressed negative event (%26,49). Negative experiences are perceived mostly at school (%43,51), parent-child relationship is the most mentioned relational context in negative experience manner.% 77 of the photographs were coded in the category of negative experience and violence. 91% of them were in neighborhood, 79% of them were in the category of environmental violence. The study showed adolescents’ sensitivity to the problems in their neighborhood and school environments and to the daily expression of sexism.