The use of fables in the development of students' comprehension of social relationships and motives of human behaviour

• Main Author: Čutović Mirjana M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pedagoško društvo Srbije i Institut za pedagogiju i andragogiju Filozofskog fakulteta Univerziteta u Beogradu 2017-01-01
• Series: Nastava i Vaspitanje
• Subjects: fable; comprehension of social relationships; motives of human behaviour; pupils
• Online Access: http://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/0547-3330/2017/0547-33301702351C.pdf

In this paper the importance of the analytic-synthetic study of fables is examined from a theoretical and empirical aspect, with the aim of ascertaining whether a functionally selected methodological approach to the interpretation of fables in teaching fosters the development of pupils' ability to comprehend social relationships and motives of human behaviour. An experimental study was conducted with parallel groups on a sample (N = 82) drawn from the population of 4th grade students of elementary schools in Serbia. Group equivalence was statistically controlled for by analysis of covariance. In the experimental group, students continuously practiced analysing fables in terms of human behaviour motives and human relationships. The results show that the experimental group, in which the experimental program was implemented, displayed a significant improvement in the level and quality of the ability to comprehend social relationships, but also that students' gender did not significantly affect the development of comprehension of social relationships and human behaviour motives. The results of this study are a contribution to the research into the educational value of fables and to the possibilities of systematically influencing personality development.