Second triad elementary school students’ knowledge and perceptions of Eurasian Lynx

• Main Author: Štajdohar, Petra
• Format: Thesis
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: Poučevanje; Lynx; Lynx lynx lynx
• Online Access: http://pefprints.pef.uni-lj.si/7039/; http://pefprints.pef.uni-lj.si/7039/1/Magistrsko_delo_Petra_%C5%A0tajdohar.pdf

The Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), one of the three representatives of large carnivores in Slovenia, is currently the most endangered mammal in Slovenia. Involving and educating multiple stakeholders is essential for the permanent, successful protection and conservation of any species. Attitudes and knowledge begin to develop since young age, therefore ignorance and misconceptions can provoke negative attitudes even before the development of critical thinking. In this study, we wanted to test the knowledge and attitudes of students towards the lynx in the Second cycle of elementary school. Data were obtained through a questionnaire and a test of knowledge in primary schools from the area of permanent occurrence of lynx (Kočevsko) and the area without permanent occurrence of lynx (Gorenjska). We found that student's knowledge of the Eurasian lynx was extremely low. Acceptable results were achieved in the field of lynx biology, and very poor results in the field of lynx conservation. We also found that there are differences between individual classes, but contrary to expectations, the best results were achieved by 5th-grade students and the worst by 6th-grade students. There were also no statistically significant differences in knowledge between students according to gender or area of residence. In the analysis of attitudes, we found that there were no major differences between boys and girls, but girls did express a greater fear factor. As expected, there are statistically significant differences between students' knowledge status. Students who have achieved better results in the test are thus more inclined to lynx protection, learning about the species, and have less fear. Results of this study could provide new educational content, which will be based on the curriculum and will provide better knowledge and attitude towards large carnivores.