아바타를 통해 본 초？중？고？대학생의 자아 이미지 비교분석

Abstract

By comparing one's self-images of what they are and what they want to be, this study revealed some types of images that contemporary Korean students possess about themselves. Data were collected by surveying 408 individuals representing four groups: elementary(182), middle(84), high(68) and college students(74). In the researcher- developed survey questionnaire, 9 graphic characters called 'avatar', which may play the role of one's agent in a cyber space, were presented along with text descriptions. And the survey respondents were asked to select the image of their avatars as well as their real and ideal images, respectively. The analysis of the survey data brought out some unexpected and controversial points of discussions. First, the majority of students who took part in the survey selected the image of 'ordinary' as an illustration of what they are. As to the ideal image, the group of male students preferred a gentlemanlike image; whereas, the group of female students looked to the avatar having a 'pure and innocent' image. Second, the image of one's having avatar tended to reflect one's real image rather than one's pursuing ideal image. Third, amongst the four groups of respondents, the group of high school students had relatively stronger opinions on issues related to sexuality in a cyber space than other three groups of students.