Youth and Wildlife. The Beliefs and Behaviors of Fifth and Sixth Grade Students Regarding Non-Domestic Animals

摘要

The report analyzes the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of a national sample of 3,087 fifth and sixth graders concerning wildlife. The sample was randomly selected from 15,787 respondents to a wildlife survey questionnaire distributed in Weekly Reader periodicals. Young people expressed more sentimental affection for animals than naturalistic interest in wildlife and demonstrated limited factual understandings of wildlife. There were positive relationships between engaging in certain activities, such as identifying birds, and high levels of wildlife interest and knowledge. Results are interpreted in terms of ways to utilize children's existing orientations toward animals to motivate greater appreciation of wildlife. Recommendations include gearing educational activities to the needs of specific demographic groups, integrating wildlife education materials into established school curricula, and increasing opportunities for specific forms of contact with wildlife. Earlier evidence of maturational changes in the development of attitudes toward animals is expanded by comparisons between children and adults nationwide.