THE USE OF DIVERSITY DOLLS IN EARLY EDUCATION

Abstract

Aim: The objectives of the study is first to identify how children respond on an Emotional level to the diversity doll with special educational needs and secondly, to examine whether the diversity doll creates empathy as an important anti-bias approach. Theory: The theoretical framework used in this study is Bandura’s social learning theory (1977). The social learning theory is based on learning through observation and explains the modification(s) of the behavior. Method: A narrative design is applied in the study for the data collection based on observation and unstructured interviews with preschool children at an ΙInternational preschool in Gothenburg region. Results: Through observation and discussion with the children regarding the diversity doll and its impact on them, the range of the emotions the doll creates in the children is identified. Moreover, the children showed their problem solving capability in all the situations with the diversity doll. Empathy, as one of the main aims of the survey, is emerged fromcollected data.