7: Socialization of Children After Distance Learning. A Research Experience Within the Training Process of a Future Psychologist

This chapter focuses on a research project conducted as a Bachelor Thesis at the Sigmund Freud University, Vienna, Austria, and includes a reflection on what was learned during that process. The research project addresses how children’s socialization aspects was impacted due to the distance learning period. A crucial element of healthy socialization is interacting with other same aged, which, however, was consequently severely compromised during distance learning. To investigate this impact five elementary school teachers of public schools in Vienna, Austria, were individually interviewed on their perception from personal work experience concerning children aged six-seven years at the time, both male and female. The results indicate that teachers have noticed a significant impact in children’s socialization skills after having returned to school under normal circumstances. Changes were most noticeable in conflict management and peer to peer relationships, as the children affected by distance learning were deprived of a crucial element in this developmental stage. A personal reflection on how this project helped learn important professional tools is integrated into the chapter. Most important elements of the student researcher’s personal developmental gain during this research project include conducting qualitative research, putting theory into practice, working together with my supervisor, and hoping to make a difference in the academic field.