A Phenomenographic Approach to the Meaning of Death: a Chinese Perspective

The purpose of this study was to investigate qualitative & quantitative differences in Chinese children’s concepts of death, & to analyze this conceptual development as it related to background variables (such as age, gender, religion, & health status). 239 children in 6 grade groups were asked to draw their impression of the word “death” & to give a verbal commentary of what they had drawn. The results are interpreted as providing a unique window on death concepts among Chinese children. (42 refs)