The master thesis examines the level of fear and disgust reported by students of the Faculty of Education (PEF), studies of double subject teacher, the biology-chemistry programme (BI – KE) and biology-home economics (BI – GO), and the Faculty of Health Sciences, majoring in sanitary engineering (SI) to selected animals. The thesis also verifies their willingness for handling these animals and interprets how this could impact the quality of the provision of their future profession. To this end, we prepared a questionnaire through which we obtained the most accurate assessments of the individual categories. We performed a quantitative study in which data processing focused primarily on the differences present between the sexes and the differences depending on study programmes for students of Faculty of Education, as well as based on the year of study. The study involved 276 respondents. The analysis showed that expression of fear and disgust is mainly dependant on the type of animals and whether or not the students had had contact with a certain animal. On average, students have more positive attitude to animals they are not afraid of. Among these, we primarily classified those animals that can be categorised as “pets” or, more correctly, companion animals. A more negative attitude was detected toward amphibians and invertebrates. This negative attitude towards amphibians and invertebrates is more bound to the experience of disgust, rather than the experience of fear. Female students on average reported higher levels of fear and disgust toward more animal species than male students. Differences were also found with certain types of animals relative to the study programme (BI – KE - GO and SI). For the assessment of fear, disgust and willingness to handling with selected animals, depending on the study year of students Pef there were almost no differences, there have been only on certain types of animals. As our survey is linked to students who will have in working life contact with the animals they are keen and not keen on, it is necessary to ensure they be trained by the end of their studies, so that they will know how to deal with different animal species. Only in this way can we get competent graduates.
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