What makes a good friend?
— Helen Della Nave, Open Source Science Manager
I met Amanda Williams on Friday. In her area of work researchers define groups by common characteristics including class, gender, race and religion. She is interested in the value of relationships between individuals of different groups and how they develop. Her work is based on the premise that diverse groups are more productive and make better decisions than less diverse groups.
I work in a public venue that attracts hundreds of primary school children on school trips and thousands of families with young kids looking for a fun interesting day out. It is my challenge to get them excited about being involved in active research. So when Amanda told me one of her research questions was ‘What makes a good friend?’ that was like an early Christmas gift!!
We are hoping our audiences will inform Amanda’s research by asking this question to children that visit our venue. The answers will help shape Amanda’s thinking around what influences children’s choice of friends, and how we might encourage more inter-group relationships that help children develop more diverse relationships as adults.
I couldn’t wait to ask this question so I started at school pick up with Betty (5), Oliver(6) and Evie (9) ‘What makes a good friend?’
Betty: Lou Lou my dog is my best friend
Oliver: Respect… that’s what Mr Carpenter said in assembly!
Evie: Being Kind
Even with a sample size of 3, this question really got adults and children buzzing with ideas and questions, including the influence of adults on children’s choice of friends, whether friendship was exclusive to humans and which values are universal and which evolve as we grow up. I am very excited about the links between research, personal experience and broader societal implications. We are hoping to bring the first stage of this collaboration to our public audiences in We the Curious in early 2020.
