Perceived Disgust and Personal
Experiences are Associated with
Acceptance of Dissections in
Schools
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1
Trnava University, SLOVAKIA
2
Trnava University & Institute of Zoology, SLOVAKIA
3
P.J. Šafárik University, SLOVAKIA
Publication date: 2013-12-14
EURASIA J. Math., Sci Tech. Ed 2013;9(3):311-318
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Animal dissections are essential parts of anatomy/zoology courses, but their effectiveness
is influenced by student attitudes and emotions. Here we examined attitudes toward
dissections in 397 prospective biology teachers enrolling two Slovak universities. Perceived
disgust of dissections negatively correlated with other attitudes toward dissections
domains and previous experiences with dissections correlated positively with attitudes
toward dissections. Reported experiences with real and virtual dissections in Slovak
elementary and high schools were rare. Students who owned animal(s) at home had less
positive attitudes toward dissections than non-animal owners. Our research support an
idea that prior experiences with dissections and low perceived disgust correlate with
positive attitudes toward dissections. Special attention should be dedicated to females and
to animal owners, because positive attitudes toward animals may be in conflict with
supportive attitudes towards dissections.