Knowledge of Arthropod Carnivory and Herbivory: Factors Influencing Preservice Elementary Teacher’s Attitudes and Beliefs toward Arthropods

Human negativity toward arthropods has been well documented but the factors
that contribute to this negativity have been elusive. This study explored knowledge of
arthropod carnivory and herbivory as possible casual factors that contribute to the negative
tendencies preservice elementary teachers have toward most arthropods. Specifically, this
study investigated the effect knowledge of arthropod carnivory and herbivory had on
United States kindergarten through sixth grade preservice elementary teacher attitude
toward that arthropod and belief concerning the likelihood of incorporating information
about that specific arthropod into their future science classroom. A cluster randomized
design with a control group was used for the study. The treatment group consisted of 147
preservice elementary teachers and the control group consisted of 151. Unique to this study
is the finding that arthropod carnivory and herbivory are causal factors that strongly affect
preservice elementary teacher attitude and belief toward arthropods. When the participants
of the study were made aware that an arthropod they thought was a herbivore was actually a
carnivore, their attitude and likelihood of incorporation significantly declined. When the
participants of the study were made aware that an arthropod they thought was a carnivore
was actually a herbivore, their attitude and likelihood of incorporation significantly
increased. Implications and future research are discussed.