Name: GABRIEL MAROQUIO ZANDOMENIGHE DA SILVA
Publication date: 12/06/2025
Advisor:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| ANDRE DA SILVA MELLO | Advisor |
Examining board:
| Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| ANDRE DA SILVA MELLO | Presidente |
| GIULIANO GOMES DE ASSIS PIMENTEL | Examinador Externo |
| RODRIGO LEMA DEL RIO MARTINS | Examinador Externo |
Summary: This dissertation focuses on the social representations of children, adolescents, and teachers who participate in the social project titled Associação Capixaba de Apoio à Cultura, Educação e Esporte, located in the municipality of Serra, in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. The main objectives of the study are to identify and analyze the social representations of children, adolescents, and teachers regarding the sports-based social project in which they participate. This is a qualitative, descriptive-interpretative research, grounded in the Theory of Social Representations, with a focus on the central core of these representations. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with four children, four adolescents, and two teachers from each unit where the project is implemented, totaling 30 participants. In the analysis process, the data were processed using the Iramuteq software, which generated word clouds. This software tool helped identify the central core of the participants’ social representations and, in conjunction with Content Analysis, helped to understand the meanings attributed by the research subjects to the project they are part of. The data collected from the children indicate the importance of learning different sports modalities and the value they place on interpersonal relationships between themselves and the teachers as a means of maintaining their connection to the project. The adolescents, in turn, express a desire to advance in their sports careers and also show concern for their health. The teachers value inclusive and emancipatory perspectives in their engagement with sports practices; however, they do not employ theoretical-methodological frameworks necessary to achieve these goals. Different meanings are attributed to the project, and it only partially meets the desires and social representations of its participants. Based on the findings, we conclude that the project needs to continuously review its objectives and methodological strategies in order to align with the wishes, aspirations, and needs of its participants, thereby moving beyond externally imposed approaches.
Keywords: Social Representations; Social Projects; Sports.
