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Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, Volume 10, Issue 2, Article 8 (Dec., 2009) Osman CARDAK Students' ideas about dangerous animals |
The answers given by the students are shown in following tables. Data obtained from students’ answers was grouped by most dangerous animal, list of dangerous animals, dangerous animal features and the frequency of the associations to four of these dangerous animals: snake, scorpion, centipede and spider.
a. Most dangerous animal according to students
From the answers given to the question of which is the most dangerous animal, the names of 16 animals were listed. However, as the frequencies of five answers (dinosaur, hen with chicks, elephant, frog, and rhinoceros) were less than three, they were included under the others category. The list and frequency of the remaining 11 animals are given in Table I. While 304 of the 316 students in the sampling gave associations for the most dangerous animal, 12 didn’t answer. In the answers given by the students for the most dangerous animal question, snake ranks first with 144 answers. Snakes are not as dangerous as it is believed (Atatur & Gocmen, 2001; Oluk, 2009).
Table I: Most dangerous animal according to the students
Name of animal
Frequency
Snake
144
Scorpion
36
Lion
30
Spider
18
Centipede
17
Alligator
13
Bear
11
Insect
9
Dog
9
Tick
8
Wolf
4
tr> Other
5
No answer
12
b. Dangerous animals according to the students
When the students were asked to list the dangerous animals they could think of, two different categories, 19 different animal names and a total of 1152 associations were listed from the answers. It was seen that the dominant category was vertebrates. While there were a total of 709 vertebrates, there were only 443 invertebrates. Less than three associations were not listed separately, but were listed under ‘Other’ in Table II. Fifteen students did not answer. It is interesting to note that there were not many associations with ticks, which have caused fatal diseases in Turkey in recent years. In fact, many people are losing their lives due to tick bites every day (Ataturk University, 2009).
Table II: Dangerous animal associations according to the students
Categories
Name of animal
Frequency
Vertebrates
Snake
292
Lion
176
Bear
67
Wolf
48
Dog
34
Alligator
30
Tiger
26
Rhinoceros
24
Coyote
5
Other
7
Total
709
Invertebrates
Scorpion
183
Centipede
97
Spider
89
Tick
33
Insect
26
Jellyfish
11
Other
4
Total
443
No answer
15
c. Features that make animals dangerous according to the students
When the students were asked for associations with what the feature was that made animals dangerous, two different categories were formed: physical properties and classification; and emotional and behavioural properties. A total of 1327 associations were given. In these categories, 17 word associations were found. With 780 associations, the physical properties and classification category was the dominant category. The highest frequency in the students’ associations was venom, with 272 associations. The students held the belief that venom was the most important feature that made an animal dangerous. Furthermore, the associations of the students to a large body size and strength were also significant. When the emotional and behavioural properties category is considered, the most noticeable association was aggressive properties, with 156 associations, while associations with rending and sneakiness were also considerable. Seventeen students did not answer this question (Table III).
Table III: Feature associations that make animals dangerous according to the students
Category
Students’ associations and frequencies
Total frequency of words in the category
Physical properties and classification (10 words)
Venom (272), large body (154), strength (94), pincers (90), tail (61), cutting teeth (54), claws (34), tongue (8), reptile (8), head (5)
780
Emotional and behavioural properties (7 words)
Aggressiveness (156), rending and savage (138), sneakiness (103), fast and sudden movement (97), hissing (38), repugnant and cold appearance (10), camouflage (5)
547
Total 17 words
No answer
17
Evidence obtained from this study creates a basis for identifying the complexity of associations, opinions and primary concepts relating to endangered bird species and their protection. Evidence from our study is similar to the results of Torkar and Bajd (2006). Such complex associations definitely must be taken into account, especially while organizing protection activities and creating educational strategies by which a larger amount of people are targeted in order to protect endangered bird species and habitats. Legal arrangements and controls relating to hunting should be enforced more strictly in Turkey. Taking into account ovulating times and maturity time of babies while hunting and paying required attention to avoid exceeding limits during these hunting periods will contribute to the prevention of the extinction of these bird species.
d. Associations with the word snake
A total of four categories - danger; physical properties and classification; environment; and emotional and behavioural properties were formed when the students were asked for associations to the word snake. A total of 24 words were observed in these categories. In the analysis of the answers given by the students, there were 1279 associations. Although the highest number of associations was with the term dangerous, when categories were considered, the category of emotional and behavioural properties was dominant. Emphasis was on the biting and stinging of snakes in the emotional and behavioural properties category. Eleven students did not answer this question (Table IV). Although actually very few of the snakes (about 10 species) found in Turkey are venomous or harmful to humans, they were considered dangerous and fatal. This result is concordant with Oluk’s findings (2009). Furthermore, Atatur and Gocmen (2001) have claimed that 30% of snakes are killed on the assumption that they are dangerous to humans. Evidence that may be considered as an alternative conception by the students is that some of them believe that the snake’s tongue has a stinging property. The students were not aware that the tongue of the snake does not have carry venom. This result supported our belief that the students had alternative conceptions (Bell, 1981; Trowbridge & Mintzes, 1985, 1988; Dikmenli et al. 2002).
Table IV: Associations with the word ‘snake’
Category
Students’ associations and frequency
Total frequency of words in the category
Danger (1 word)
Dangerous and fatal (191)
191
Physical properties and classification (9 words)
Venom (171), reptile (67), length (52), eye (42), changing colour (18 ), teeth ( 18), tongue (17 ), slippery body ( 10), cobra ( 4)
399
Environment (5 words)
Forest (75), house roof (74), underground (30), long grass (16), summer season (9)
204
Emotional and behavioural properties (9 words)
Biting and stinging people (140), cold and repulsive (87), frightening and scary (85), enemy (60), panic and excitement (48), sneakiness ( 29), fast movement (19), sound (11), swallowing (6)
485
Total 24 words
No answer
11
e. Associations with the word scorpion
When the students were asked for associations to the word scorpion, a total of five categories were formed: danger; physical properties and classification; environment; emotional and behavioural properties; and the zodiac sign of Scorpio. A total of 30 words appeared in these categories. The analysis of the data obtained from the students disclosed 1100 associations. Although the association with the highest frequency was the word dangerous, when the categories were considered, the category of physical properties and classification was dominant. In the physical properties and classification category, the most frequent response was the stinging of scorpions with 112 associations. An interesting association was the sign of scorpio, with 18 responses. Sixteen students did not answer this question (Table V). An alternative conception here was the presence of students who thought that a scorpion was a reptile when, in fact, it is an invertebrate. It was apparent that the mode of locomotion of an animal was a key factor for the students in classifying animals (Braund, 1991; Chen et al. 1994; Kattmann, 2001; Prokop et al. 2007 )
Table V: Associations with the word ‘scorpion’
Category
Students’ associations and frequency
Total frequency of words in the category
Danger (1 word)
Dangerous and fatal (183)
183
Physical properties and classification (13 words)
Venom (165), tail (85), sting (54), feet and legs (39), pincers (36), small (28), eye (21), large (18), head (16), body segment (11), reptile (10), animal (6), Colour (4)
493
Environment (6 words)
Village houses (21), forest (15), under stones (10), house ruins (8), summer season (5), earth (3)
62
Emotional and behavioural properties (9 words)
Stinging people (112), frightening and scary (102), aggressive and savage (45), sneakiness (35), excitement and anxiety (14), pain inflicting (12), cold and repulsive (12), suicide (7), fast movement (5)
344
Zodiac (1 word) Sign of Scorpio (18) 18 Total 30 words
No answer
16
f. Associations with the word centipede
When the students were asked for the associations to the word centipede, four categories were formed: danger; physical properties and classification; environment; and emotional and behavioural properties. A total of 23 words were observed in these categories. In the analysis of the answers given by the students, there were 917 associations. The largest number of associations was in the physical properties and classification category, with 502 associations. In this category, the word feet, with 156 associations, was at the top of the list. 42 of the students didn’t answer this question (Table VI). Again, an alternative conception detected among the students was that they placed centipede in the reptile category, with 96 associations. An interesting piece of evidence gleaned from the students was that the centipede was considered harmless and cute. The number of students considering the centipede dangerous was quite low with 47 associations. The reason that students think of the centipede as harmless or slightly dangerous may be associated with the fact that they see it as a small and cute creature.
Table VI: Associations with the word ‘centipede’
Category
Students’ associations and frequency
Total frequency of words in the category
Danger (1 word)
Dangerous (47)
47
Physical properties and classification (12 words)
Too many feet (156), reptile (96), long (84), small (35), venomous (30), non-venomous (24), insect (20), segmented body (19), small (19), animal (8), eye (7), colour (4)
502
Environment (4 words)
Under stones (76), earth (45), summer season (32), forest and trees (14)
167
Emotional and behavioural properties (6 words)
Repulsive ( 70), stings people (41), harmless (40), pretty and cute (22), fast movement (21), pain (7)
201
Total 23 words
No answer
42
g. Associations with the word spider
When the students were asked for associations with the word spider, five categories, namely: danger; physical properties and classification; environment; emotional and behavioural properties; and movies, were formed. There were a total of 26 words in these categories. The analysis of the data obtained from the students’ answers disclosed 1615 associations. The most frequent associations were with the word dangerous, with 186 associations. The physical properties and classification category was dominant with 795 associations. In this category, web was at the top, with 180 associations. In this category, there was also non-venomous, with a significantly high number of 94 associations. Eighteen students did not answer this question (Table VII). Again, an alternative conception observed in the students was their classification of the spider as a reptile. An interesting piece of data obtained from the students was the fact that many saw the spider as a harmless and peace-loving animal. Most of the students considered the spider repulsive and terrible. Students are afraid of animals they are not constantly in association and do not constantly encounter in daily life (Davey, 1992, 1994; Kellert, 1993).
Table VII: Associations with the word ‘spider’
Category
Students’ associations and frequency
Total frequency of words in the category
Danger (1 word)
Dangerous and fatal (186)
186
Physical properties and classification (12 words)
Web (180), venomous (153), non-venomous (94), too many legs (85), large (80), small (71), furry (60), eyes (29), colour (18), various species (17), animal (5), reptile (3)
795
Environment (4 words)
Old houses (151), walls (63), summer season (14), forest (7)
235
Emotional and behavioural properties (8 words)
Repulsive (89), terrible (54), fast movement (48), love and peace (40), stinging people (31), harmless (27), excitement (10), loneliness (3)
302
Movie (1 word) Spiderman movie (97) 97 Total 26 words
No answer
18
If information, particularly about dangerous animals, is gleaned from hearsay resources with no scientific basis, it causes serious problems in later educational stages. The place and importance of the environment in the student’s cognitive development is great, and when the child cannot reach the sources of correct information, s/he develops alternative conceptions. This issue must be given sufficient importance in educational programmes and textbooks. It must be explained to people, especially those who are involved in agriculture and who live in close contact with nature for certain stages of their lives, that, in order to protect the ecological balance, no creature should be killed by humans. When it is considered that mankind is the most harmful of all creatures, the greatest duties also lie upon humans.
