PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS' FEAR OF SNAKES, CONSERVATION ATTITUDES, AND LIKELIHOOD OF INCORPORATING ANIMALS INTO THE FUTURE SCIENCE CURRICULUM

Studying attitudes toward fauna such as snakes is essential in wildlife management. The main objective of this study was to investigate the impact that fear of snakes has on Slovenian pre-service teachers' attitudes towards conservation and the likelihood of incorporating animals into developing the future science curriculum. The effect of direct experience on fear of snakes, conservation attitudes, and the likelihood of incorporating snakes into the future science curriculum were also studied. Altogether, 352 full-time and part-time students majoring in preschool education and primary school education were surveyed. The study confirmed that students' fear of snakes negatively influenced their conservation attitudes and decreased the likelihood of incorporating snakes into the future science curriculum. Prior direct contact with snakes negatively correlated with fear of snakes, and positively with attitudes towards conservation and the likelihood of incorporating snakes into the future science curriculum. Prior direct contact with snakes also affected students' word associations regarding snakes by reducing the frequency of some associations that emphasize the potential threat snakes pose to people.