Reported Experiences Enhance
Favourable Attitudes Toward Toads

Iztok Tomažič

doi:10.12973/ejmste/75207

Reported Experiences Enhance Favourable Attitudes Toward Toads

Full Text (PDF)

Iztok Tomažič ¹ ^*

More Detail

¹ University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SLOVENIA^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

There are many factors that influence the formation of attitudes, one of the most crucial ones being education. Positive attitudes toward animals can be effectively accomplished principally by enabling students to directly experience organisms and their environments. The following study presents the development of a Toad Attitude Questionnaire (TAQ). Results were gathered from a sample of 195 primary school students (grades 6–9, ages 11– 14). Results show, that students who reported direct experience with animals were more willing to study animals and generally exhibited a more positive attitude toward them. Implications of the study are discussed.

Keywords

attitude
animals
toads
reported direct experience

License

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed, Volume 7, Issue 4, 2011, 253-262

https://doi.org/10.12973/ejmste/75207

Publication date: 21 Dec 2011

Article Views: 2334

Article Downloads: 883

Open Access References How to cite this article

References

Arrindell, W. A. (2000). Phobic dimensions: IV. The structure of animal fears. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 38 (5), 509-530.
Arrindell, W. A., Eisemann, M., Richter J., Tian, P. S., Oei, T. P. S, Caballo, V. E., et al. (2003). Phobic anxiety in 11 nations, Part I: Dimensional constancy of the five-factor model. Behaviour Research & therapy, 41 (4), 461-479.
Association of Zoos and Aquariums. (n.d.). Retrieved June 20, 2011, from http://www.amphibianark.org/pdf /YOTF/WAZA%20Global%20InfoPack%20English.p df.
Barney, E. C., Mintzes, J. J., & Yen, C.-F. (2005). Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior toward Charismatic Megafauna: The Case of Dolphins. Journal of Environmental Education, 36 (2), 41-55.
Beebee, T. J. C., Griffiths, R. A. (2005). The amphibian decline crisis: A watershed for conservation biology? Biological Conservation, 125 (3), 271-285.
Bjerke, T., Østdahl, T. (2004). Animal-related attitudes and activities in an urban population. Anthrozöos, 17 (2), 109–129.
Blaustein, A. R., Kiesecker, J. M. (2002). Complexity in conservation: lessons from the global decline of amphibian populations. Ecology Letters, 5 (4), 597-608.
Byrnes, J., Miller, D., & Schaffer, W. (1999). Gender differences in risk-taking: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 125 (3), 367–383.
Curtis, V., Biran, A. (2001). Dirt, disgust, and disease: is hygiene in our genes? Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 44 (1), 17–31.
Curtis, V., Aunger, R., Rabie, T. (2004). Evidence that disgust evolved to protect from risk of disease. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 271(Suppl 4), S131– S133.
Davey, G. C. L., McDonald, A. S., Hirisave, U., Prabhu, G. G., Iwawaki, S., Jim, C. I., et al. (1998). A cross-cultural study of animal fears. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 36 (7-8), 735-750.
Ekman P. (1999). Basic Emotions. Handbook of Cognition and Emotion. Dalgleish T. and Power M. J. (eds.). Sussex: UK, John Wiley & Sons, 45-60.
European Parliament, Council, (2006). Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 on key competences for lifelong learning. [Last access on: 5.5.2010; http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:200 6:394:0010:0018:EN:PDF].
Fazio, R.H., Zanna, M.P. (1981). Direct experience and attitudebehavior consistency. Advances in experimental social psychology. Berkowitz L. (ur.). San Diego: CA, Academic Press, 161-202.
Gregori, J. (1996). Ogroženost in varstvo dvoživk (Amphibia); The Amphibian Fauna (Amphibia) - Present State and Future Prospects. Narava Slovenije, stanje in perspektive: zbornik prispevkov o naravni dediščini Slovenije. Gregori, J., Martinčič A., Tarman K., Urbanc-Berčič O., Tome D. and Zupančič M. (eds.). Ljubljana, Društvo ekologov Slovenije, 362-367.
Hawkes, K. (1991). Showing off. Tests of an hypothesis about men’s foraging goals. Ethology and Sociobiology, 12 (1), 29−54.
Hungerford, H. R., & Volk, T. L. (1990). Changing learner behavior through environmental education. The Journal of Environmental Education, 21 (3), 8-21.
IUCN, Conservation International, and NatureServe. 2008. An Analysis of Amphibians on the 2008 IUCN Red List . Downloaded on 12 October 2010.
Kellert, S. R. (1985). Attitudes toward animals: age-related development among children. Journal of Environmental Education, 16 (3), 29-39.
Kellert, S. R. (1993). Values and perceptions of invertebrates. Conservation Biology, 7 (4), 845–855.
Kellert; S. R. (1996). The value of life: biological diversity and human society. Washington: DC, Island Press.
Kraus, S. J. (1995). Attitudes and the prediction of behavior – a metaanalysis of the empirical literature. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 21 (1), 58-75.
Lin, H., Cheng, L., Chen, P., & Chang, M. (2008). Involving local communities in amphibian conservation: Taipei frog Rana taipehensis as an example. International Zoo Yearbook, 42 (1), 90-98.
Lukas, K. E., & Ross, S. R. (2005). Zoo Visitor Knowledge and Attitudes toward Gorillas and Chimpanzees. Journal of Environmental Education, 36 (4), 33-48.
Morgan, J. M. (1992). A theoretical basis for evaluating wildlife-related education-programs. American Biology Teacher, 54 (3), 153-157.
Morgan, J. M., & Gramann, J. H. (1989). Predicting effectiveness of wildlife education programs: A study of students’ attitudes and knowledge towards snakes. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 17 (4), 501–509.
Oaten, M., Stevenson, R., & Case, T. (2009). Disgust as a Disease-Avoidance Mechanism. Psychological Bulletin, 135 (2), 303-321.
Prokop, P., Prokop, M., & Tunnicliff e, S. D. (2008). Eff ects of keeping animals as pets on children’s concepts of vertebrates and invertebrates. International Journal of Science Education, 30 (4), 431-449.
Prokop, P., Tunnicliffe, S. D. (2008): 'Disgusting animals': Primary school children’s attitudes and myths of bats and spiders. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science & Technology Education, 4 (2), 87-97.
Prokop, P., Fančovičová, J., Kubiatko, M.(2009a). Vampires are still alive: Slovakian students’ attitudes toward bats. Anthrozoös, 22 (1), 19 - 30.
Prokop, P., Özel, M., Uşak, M.(2009b). Cross-cultural comparison of student attitudes toward snakes. Society and Animals, 17 (3), 224 – 240.
Prokop, P., Tunnicliffe, S.D. (2010). Effects of keeping pets on children’s attitudes toward popular and unpopular animals. Anthrozoös, 23 (1), 21 – 35.
Prokop, P., Uşak, M., Fančovičová, J. (2010a). Health and the avoidance of macroparasites: A preliminary crosscultural study. Journal of Ethology, 28 (2), 345 – 351.
Prokop, P., Tolarovičová, A., Camerik, A.,Peterková, V. (2010b). High school students’ attitudes towards spiders: A cross-cultural comparison. International Journal of Science Education, 32 (12), 1665 – 1688.
Prokop, P., Fančovičová, J., Fedor, P. (2010c): Health is associated with anti-parasite behavior and fear of disease-relevant animals in humans. Ecological Psychology, 22 (3), 222 – 237.
Randler, C., Ilg, A., & Kern, J. (2005). Cognitive and emotional evaluation of an amphibian conservation program for elementary school students. Journal of Environmental Education. 37 (4), 43–52.
Røskaft, E., Bjerke, T., Kaltenborn, B. P., Linnell, J. D. C., & Andersen, R. (2003). Patterns of self-reported fear towards large carnivores among the Norwegian public. Evolution & Human Behavior, 24 (3), 184-198.
Thompson, T. L., & Mintzes, J. J. (2002). Cognitive structure and the affective domain: on knowing and feeling in biology. International Journal of Science Education, 24 (6), 645-660.
Tomažič, I. (2008). The influence of direct experience on students’ attitudes to, and knowledge about amphibians. Acta Biologica Slovenica, 51 (1), 39-49.
Tomažič, I. (2011). Seventh Graders’ Direct Experience with, and Feelings toward, Amphibians and Some Other Nonhuman Animals. Society and animals, 19 (3), 225-247.
Trombulak, S.C., Omland, K.S., Robinson, J.A., Lusk, J.J., Fleischner, T.L., Brown, G., and Domroese, M. (2004). Principles of conservation biology: Recommended guidelines for conservation literacy from the Education Committee of the Society for Conservation Biology. Conservation biology, 18 (5), 1180-1190.
Tunnicliffe S. D., Reiss M. J. (1999). Building a model of the environment: how do children see animals? Journal of Biological Education, 33 (3), 142-148.
Uradni list RS, št. 82/2002. Pravilnik o uvrstitvi ogroženih rastlinskih in živalskih vrst v rdeči seznam. Available at: http://www.uradni-list.si/ (2.5.2010).
Yen, C.F., Yao, T.W., & Chiu, Y.C. (2004). Alternative Conceptions in Animal Classification Focusing on Amphibians and Reptiles: A Cross-Age Study. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 2 (2), 159-174.
Yore, L. B., & Boyer, S. (1997). College students' attitudes towards living organisms: The influence of experience & knowledge. American Biology Teacher, 59 (9), 558-563.

How to cite this article

APA

Tomažič, I. (2011). Reported Experiences Enhance Favourable Attitudes Toward Toads. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 7(4), 253-262. https://doi.org/10.12973/ejmste/75207

Vancouver

Tomažič I. Reported Experiences Enhance Favourable Attitudes Toward Toads. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2011;7(4):253-62. https://doi.org/10.12973/ejmste/75207

AMA

Tomažič I. Reported Experiences Enhance Favourable Attitudes Toward Toads. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2011;7(4), 253-262. https://doi.org/10.12973/ejmste/75207

Chicago

Tomažič, Iztok. "Reported Experiences Enhance Favourable Attitudes Toward Toads". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education 2011 7 no. 4 (2011): 253-262. https://doi.org/10.12973/ejmste/75207

Harvard

Tomažič, I. (2011). Reported Experiences Enhance Favourable Attitudes Toward Toads. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 7(4), pp. 253-262. https://doi.org/10.12973/ejmste/75207

MLA

Tomažič, Iztok "Reported Experiences Enhance Favourable Attitudes Toward Toads". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, vol. 7, no. 4, 2011, pp. 253-262. https://doi.org/10.12973/ejmste/75207