Energiakasutuse tähendused ja tõlgendused Eesti peredes

Perceptions Concerning the Use of Energy in Estonian families - a small-scale qualitative study Purpose of the study The purpose of this research was to chart how some selected Estonian families perceive the use of energy resources: firstly at the level of basic concepts, and secondly at the level of how these concepts are interpreted in everyday life. One particular focus was the situation where resources are scarce and priorities have to be determined. Methodology The basic concept was that six two-parent families, with children and an active life style, would be represented by two respondents each, the mother and father; in the event, one father chose not to be interviewed, so there were results from 11 respondents. The families were chosen from personal acquaintance, the study includes a socio-demographic table of the respondents' education and occupation. As a first stage the respondents were introduced to the technique of mind-mapping, and each then created a mind-map themselves on the topic 'use of energy'. The mind-maps were then used as the starting-point for an extended and open-ended interview: the topics to be covered were structured in advance, but the detailed formulation of the questions themselves was left open, to allow for a flexible and appropriate response to a variety of situations and needs. The empirical material gathered was systematized using content analysis, and the perception and interpretation of energy usage was explored using text analysis; this was related to a theoretical background garnered from other surveys, statistics from official documents, etc. Although qualitative sociological research does not normally use hypotheses, it was seen that two of these could be included in the present study, parallel to the main process of gathering data, without adversely affecting the qualitative method. Results of the study The mind-maps reflected a wide variety of concept-systems: - some thought of what we can call 'energetics', the sources of technological, physical, 'visible', 'direct', 'tangible' energy, energy distributed via an infrastructure: as one respondent expressed it energy that has been “put into wire”; - others thought of mental or metaphysical energy, the ability to work, the sense of vitality, the energy that powers mental processes: for some this was seen as 'invisible' energy, for others 'indirect' energy - others thought of both approaches, as one complex whole at first, later perhaps separated into discrete concepts - the mind-maps and interviews reflected coding systems which included topics such as 'comfort', 'pleasure', 'illumination', 'home electronics', 'under-floor heating', 'life-style'. Families related the concept of 'technological' energy first and foremost to electricity in the home and in public places, and only to a lesser degree to fuel, heat, energy used for production, food and so on. But they also saw energy usage in a wider sense than traditional energetics does: e.g. the human body is seen also as a heater in the household. Respondents also saw energy transformation around them – solar energy stored in the grass being converted to food as the source of vitality, a metaphysical approach of energy. The widest meaning of 'energy usage' was given to solar energy, which was seen as the source of all energy and life on the Earth, both production and storage of light and heat. Within the 'metaphysical' approach, energy was classified as electricity, solar and wind energy, as it is in energetics. Climatic phenomena like winds, snowdrifts and storms, as well as the emotional energy received from observing them, were also perceived as forms of wind energy. Some respondents saw energy usage in terms of the dichotomy 'positive and negative': positive energy is seen as the charge which is received from pleasant activities and experiences, while negative energy is related to unpleasant activities, experiences and other phenomena that influence the ability to work or the source of vitality. Respondents also interpreted energy usage as the transformation of energy from metaphysical to physical and vice versa: e.g. how the doer receives emotional energy, as a new energy source, from the deed or the meaning of the deed (e.g. stroking the head of your child, doing someone a favour). The meaning to the individual of the concept of 'energy usage' reflected the socio-demographic background, whether more technological or more economic. In conclusion, as a pilot project, the present study provides a fascinating insight into a littleresearched area, which indicates that the topic would be worth taking further on a larger scale.http://www.ester.ee/record=b4015083~S1*es