A Case Study of Informal Learning in the Family associated with Very-Late-Onset of Schizophrenia in Female

Abstract

Family is a place of development and informal lifelong learning also in situations of crises, associated with illness or disability of its members. This study is non-clinical, ethno-educational case study of informal learning in Polish family supporting older female, who at age of 76 was diagnosed as having very-late-onset of schizophrenia. Case study I was based on the research no: 195/FES titled "Traces of disability in Polish culture". The field project lasted 13 months, from the beginning of July 2013 – to the end of July 2014. Studies were based on analyzes of the codes and explanations categories of informal learning through family members while supporting female with very-late-onset schizophrenia. The main research question was: what is informally learned by the family in a situation of schizophrenia in female in late adulthood? In the study there were 4 informers, lonely, divorced woman aged 77-78 and 3 members of her family. Personal data research of participants were coded, ensuring anonymity. The woman received a code Prue Patton and her family name Patton. The case study method I leaned on ethnographic field techniques and data collection as: participant observation, in-depth interviews and visual data designing. The analysis was made using techniques of qualitative data analysis: coding and categorization. The results showed three main codes of informal learning in the family such as learning about the schizophrenia, learning about the communication with Prue and learning about changes of support in the family.