Scientific and everyday concepts of pregnancy and childbirth.

Title: Scientific and everyday concepts of pregnancy and childbirth.
Identifier: AAI9029979
identifier: 9029979
Creator: Silgailis, Mara Daina.
Contributor: Adviser: Mary B. Parlee
Date: 1990
Language: English
Publisher: City University of New York.
Subject: Psychology, Developmental
Abstract: This descriptive study characterized adults' concepts of pregnancy and childbirth and how they change when women receive scientific, medical information about pregnancy and childbirth. A total of 70 women were interviewed once: 20 never pregnant women, 20 women in early pregnancy, 20 women in late pregnancy, and 10 childbirth educators. The interviews consisted of: a background questionnaire, attribute listing task, structured interview, belief list, and a pregnancy and birth word list. The results suggest that women's knowledge changes from popular or common-sense knowledge of pregnancy and childbirth to a system of scientific knowledge in women receiving pregnancy and childbirth instruction, such as childbirth classes. Lev Vygotsky's discussion of scientific and everyday concepts may provide a framework within which to study the two systems identified in this research. It also provides a mechanism for conceptual changes of these systems.
Type: dissertation
Source: PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
degree: Ph.D.