Megan Williams-Thompson
High Distinction
Hornsby Girls High School
“The Australian One-Child Policy”: Investigating the significance of socialisation factors unique to only children in shaping identity.

“Oh you’re an only child… I would never have picked you for one!” This comment from a friend proved to be the catalyst for choosing my personal interest project. I am investigating the significance of certain socialisation factors in determining the identity of an only child, and I am investigating whether their experience has changed over time. I chose the area of inquiry due to my interest in the impact of birth order on identity formation. I also thought that in order to undertake a personal interest project, studying the socialisation of only children would prove to be inherently rewarding in the long term.

My hypothesis is that being an only child has a significant effect on identity formation. I tested whether or not certain socialisation factors unique to only children described by psychologists and researchers, such as their lack of siblings, have a considerable impact on shaping the identity of an only child. My PIP will also consider the questions: What are some of the common images of only children within the macroworld? Are there any discrepancies between the public perception of only children and the findings of empirical research?

I have utilised a range of quantitative and qualitative methodologies in order to investigate these areas, including a personal reflection, semi-structured interviews and questionnaires with both quantitative and qualitative elements. A personal reflection seemed an obvious choice for a methodology, as my personal experience and reflections had ultimately led me to further investigate other’s experiences. My personal reflection thus acted as a springboard for my inquiry questions. The detailed responses provided by the interviews were utilised to gain substantial insight into the microworld of specific individuals, enabling me to investigate the extent and ways in which a lack of siblings contributes to the individual’s sense of self. It provided evaluative insight into the nature of interactions between only children and their peers and parents. The personal nature of the response also highlighted how there is no definitive only-child experience, as a multitude of factors will combine to shape unique socialisation experiences. The use of quantitative questionnaires, however, allowed me to compare and statistically represent trends and data, thus enabling me to draw conclusions and make cross-cultural comparisons.

The cross-cultural component of my PIP is time, as I compare the personal experiences of only children from two different generations: Baby Boomers and Generation Y. I investigated whether the rising number of only children within Australian society has led to their socialisation experience becoming less uniform and more ambiguous. My interviews with both Baby Boomer’s and male only children have provided me with an alternative view beyond my normal realm of experience, thus enhancing my empathy.