@article {272, title = {ASSESSING PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS (DIS) LIKING OF SOME ANIMAL SPECIES}, journal = {Journal of Baltic Science Education}, volume = {11}, year = {2012}, month = {December/2012}, type = {Original article}, chapter = {393-402 }, abstract = {The purpose of this study was to investigate attitudes of students, in particular primary school and biology pre-service teachers, towards specific animals in order to determine principal reasons for (dis) liking them. The sample consisted of 309 university students. Two factors were extracted termed {\textquotedblleft}pleasant animals{\textquotedblright} and {\textquotedblleft}unpleasant animals{\textquotedblright}. {\textquotedblleft}Unpleasant animals{\textquotedblright} were characterised by certain commonly perceived features such as being dirty, dangerous, distinctive and fear evoking while {\textquotedblleft}pleasant animals{\textquotedblright} were typically beautiful, clean, pleasant to touch, intelligent and responsive. Students with more positive attitudes toward the Biology subject also expressed more positive attitudes toward animals, especially toward {\textquotedblleft}unpleasant{\textquotedblright} animals. And students with more frequent exposure to natural environments had more positive attitudes to {\textquotedblleft}pleasant animals{\textquotedblright}.}, keywords = {animals, biology education, Experiences, pre-service, primary school education, teacher}, issn = {1648-3898}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.33225/jbse/12.11.393}, url = {http://oaji.net/articles/2014/987-1419169320.pdf}, author = {Gregor Torkar and Milan Kubiatko and Barbara Bajd} } @article {231, title = {GOOD PREDATORS IN BAD STORIES: CROSS-CULTURAL COMPARISON OF CHILDREN{\textquoteright}S ATTITUDES TOWARDS WOLVES}, journal = {Journal of Baltic Science Education}, volume = {10}, year = {2011}, month = {December/2011}, type = {Original article}, chapter = {229-242 }, abstract = {In this study 103 children (aged 7 {\textendash} 12 years) from two distinct countries with relatively low (Slovakia) and high (Turkey) wolf population density were interviewed to examine children{\textquoteright}s overall interest in wolves, their knowledge of wolves, the effects of their keeping pets and their reading stories about wolves. Children in both countries showed considerable factual knowledge about wolves, but the importance of wolves in nature was poorly understood. Perceptions of wolves in stories were generally negative and there was a significant effect from stories which generated fear and sympathy towards wolves suggesting that stories may have a significant impact on children{\textquoteright}s emotions. Turkish children reported their experience with less drastic stories about wolves and their interest in wolves was significantly higher and their fear of wolves was conversely lower, compared to the reactions of Slovakian children. The more the students were engaged in nature related activities, e.g. watching natural history films and walking in areas of nature, the less they demonstrated fear of wolves.}, keywords = {animals, children, predators}, issn = {1648-3898}, url = {http://oaji.net/articles/2014/987-1410547670.pdf}, author = {Pavol Prokop and Muhammet Usak and Mehmet Erdogan} } @article {122, title = {PUPILS{\textquoteright} MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT MAMMALS}, journal = {Journal of Baltic Science Education}, volume = {6}, year = {2007}, month = {March/2007}, type = {Original article}, chapter = {5-14}, abstract = {A misconception about animals has been reported in various research reports on the pupils of all age groups. However, deeper study on the children{\textquoteright}s concepts about mammals has never been conducted. This study suggests the ideas about mammals put forward by the children aged from 10 to 15. A questionnaire with 35 multiple choice and open - ended questions were administered to 468 children from 6 elementary schools in Slovakia. The children{\textquoteright}s ideas were examined in five dimensions (animal classification and phylogeny; food; foraging strategies; parental care; senses, morphology and anatomy). Serious misconceptions about mammals across all age groups were found out. Our data provides direct implications for teaching biology. This study showed that Slovakian elementary school pupils had serious problems with several concepts about mammals. Our data corroborate previous findings about misidentification of common mammals with other animals (see Kellert, 1985; Trowbridge \& Mintzes, 1985, 1988; Braund, 1991, 1998). Moreover, the follow up questions showed that although most of the pupils were aware that a whale is a mammal, they were less sure that whales suck milk or feed on plankton. These findings are in line with our current research focused on the children{\textquoteright} concepts about birds (Prokop, Kubiatko \& Fancovicova, acceptted manuscript) and support a necessity of using the multiple questions focused on the same topic rather than using a simple question. Moreover, these data have direct implications for biology practise and can be applied internationally.}, keywords = {age, animals, mammals, misconception, pupils}, issn = {1648-3898}, url = {http://oaji.net/articles/2014/987-1404286616.pdf}, author = {Milan Kubiatko and Pavol Prokop} }