Hands on or Hands Off? Disgust Sensitivity and Preference for Environmental Education Activities

Explored high disgust sensitivity (DS) as an intrapersonal barrier that constrains preference for learning opportunities involving manipulation of some organic materials. 450 middle school students completed a science activity preference scale and a DS scale. Ss who expressed the lowest interest in activities that required manipulation of organic substances also had the highest DS scores. However, no differences were found among Ss for activities that required observation only. Using a photographic scale, Ss rated their preference for lake shore environments as places to conduct an aquatic entomology study. Ss with high DS were significantly more likely to prefer the poorer locations, which were characterized by clear water and no algae or submerged objects. The addition of a barriers analysis to environmental education curricula and the formation of strategies for working effectively with students with high DS are recommended.