Education paper by Papp, Klára; Walter, Kristina
Content Analysis of Hungarian Folktales
Type of Abstract (select):Abstract (max. 250 words):
The purpose of this study is to analyze the contents of Hungarian folktales compiled in a popular book by Illyés Gyula, titled "Hetvenhét Magyar Népmese" Móra Könyvkiadó, 2015. Our purpose is to identify the themes addressed in the 77 folktales selected for inclusion in this book. The thematic analysis was guided by previous research on folktales seeking to identify patterns of altruism, qualities of character, themes of morality, emphasis on mate preferences, and differing emphases on male and female physical attractiveness. The analysis consisted of several steps, namely, choosing the collections of folktales, developing the coding form, coding the folktales, analyzing the results, assessing reliability, and providing illustrative examples. A coding form was developed to identify and qualify the characters of the folktales. The paper provides an overview of the scope of the themes in popular Hungarian folktales and considers whether these themes are relevant today in helping children develop their moral compass and whether these themes may still be viewed as important in today’s culture and merit retelling.
Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Dr. Klara Papp is professor and director of Student Assessment and Program Evaluation in the School of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University. Her areas of expertise include program evaluation, learner assessment, and educational research and scholarship. Dr. Papp, brings a national research perspective and programmatic experience to the importance of outcomes-based education. She earned her Ph.D. in educational psychology from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Kristina Walter teaches Art at Shaker Heights High School and leads the Hungarian Summer School in Sik Sandor Cserkeszpark, in Fillmore, NY.