The appropriateness of western models of parent involvement in Calcutta, India. Part 1: Parents' views on teaching and child development.
As the initial stage of an evaluation of services offered to families at Shishu Sathi, West Bengal, by Spastics Society of Eastern India, a partial replication of a Guyanese study was undertaken. The results are presented in two papers. This paper (part 1) examines parents' beliefs concerning child development and the effectiveness of teaching. Part 2 explores roles and responsibilities within families in relation to the time available to parents for active participation in a parent involvement project. The aim is to find out in terms of the above issues whether, and to what extent, it is appropriate to apply Western models of Intervention with families in West Bengal. The findings suggest that strong similarities exist between parents' beliefs in this study, the Guyanese sample, and Western expectations, concerning child development and the effects of teaching, though with certain interesting exceptions. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed along with implications for the design and delivery of services.
Goldbart
J
J
Department of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
Mukherjee
S
S
D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D016487:Parenting; D013663:Teaching