CLASS 6B

2The Grammar Junior School Introduction We were interested about children’s attitudes towards pets and stray animals. We wanted to know how many children have pets and who takes care of their pets. We also wanted to find out their favourite pets. Our research question was, “How do children behave towards pets?” We were hoping to find out that children are kind to their pets and that they take care of them. We were interested about children’s attitudes towards pets and stray animals. We wanted to know how many children have pets and who takes care of their pets. We also wanted to find out their favourite pets. Our research question was, “How do children behave towards pets?” We were hoping to find out that children are kind to their pets and that they take care of them.

3The Grammar Junior School Methodology We wanted to find out the attitudes of children towards pets and stray animals. We started by discussing the title of our project and every Friday we would talk about different ways of writing questionnaires. In our final questionnaire we have some questions that you can answer with yes or no. Most of the time you can answer with strongly agree, agree, neither agree nor disagree, or disagree, or strongly disagree. Sometimes there are other choices. We gave Classes 5 and 6 our questionnaire. If they didn’t know some of the words they were allowed to ask. We told them not to write their names. 83 children completed the questionnaire. We wanted to find out the attitudes of children towards pets and stray animals. We started by discussing the title of our project and every Friday we would talk about different ways of writing questionnaires. In our final questionnaire we have some questions that you can answer with yes or no. Most of the time you can answer with strongly agree, agree, neither agree nor disagree, or disagree, or strongly disagree. Sometimes there are other choices. We gave Classes 5 and 6 our questionnaire. If they didn’t know some of the words they were allowed to ask. We told them not to write their names. 83 children completed the questionnaire. We collected the questionnaires and as a class got into smaller groups to add up all the answers. Our computer supervisor helped us to turn the results into graphs. We collected the questionnaires and as a class got into smaller groups to add up all the answers. Our computer supervisor helped us to turn the results into graphs. We also interviewed a few children from the two classes. We also interviewed a few children from the two classes.

4The Grammar Junior School

5 Question 1: What is your favourite pet?

6The Grammar Junior School Question 2: Do you have a pet ?

7The Grammar Junior School Question 3: If you have a pet who looks after it?

8The Grammar Junior School Question 4: We must treat animals kindly.

9The Grammar Junior School Question 5: We must help injured animals.

10The Grammar Junior School Question 6: : Dogs should be allowed to roam (go around) the streets alone.

11The Grammar Junior School Question 7: : Dogs that bark are annoying.

12The Grammar Junior School Question 8: Animals should have rights.

13The Grammar Junior School Question 9: It is wrong to be cruel to an animal.

14The Grammar Junior School Question 10: Pets should be kept inside instead of being left outside.

15The Grammar Junior School Question 11: I think running over animals is cruel.

16The Grammar Junior School Question 12: Dogs should not be allowed to ‘do their business’ or dirty the streets or pavements.

17The Grammar Junior School Question 13: If you have a dog, do you keep it tied on a chain?

18The Grammar Junior School Most children’s favourite pet is a dog. Most children from Classes 5 and 6 have pets and they look after the pets themselves. We found out that most of them strongly agree that animals should be treated kindly, that we must help injured animals, that it is wrong to be cruel to an animal and that animals should have rights. The majority of children said that dogs should not be allowed to roam in the streets alone. We were surprised to find out that children don’t seem to find barking annoying. The opinions on whether pets should be kept inside or outside were mixed which shows that they all have different opinions. Almost everyone thought that it is cruel to run over an animal with a car. When the children were asked about animals ‘dirtying’ the pavements we found out that most children neither agreed or disagreed with this statement. Our findings show that most children do not keep their dogs tied on a chain. Most children’s favourite pet is a dog. Most children from Classes 5 and 6 have pets and they look after the pets themselves. We found out that most of them strongly agree that animals should be treated kindly, that we must help injured animals, that it is wrong to be cruel to an animal and that animals should have rights. The majority of children said that dogs should not be allowed to roam in the streets alone. We were surprised to find out that children don’t seem to find barking annoying. The opinions on whether pets should be kept inside or outside were mixed which shows that they all have different opinions. Almost everyone thought that it is cruel to run over an animal with a car. When the children were asked about animals ‘dirtying’ the pavements we found out that most children neither agreed or disagreed with this statement. Our findings show that most children do not keep their dogs tied on a chain. Our interviews showed very similar findings. Here we found out more about how children feel about animals. They feel very sad when a pet of theirs dies and believe that they should bury it. Since most children in the questionnaire answered that we should help injured animals we wanted to find out how they would do that. In our interviews we found that most would take the injured animal to a vet. Children also feel that animals should not be left in the roads when they are run over but that the municipality should move them. Finally, through our interviews we found out that most children who do not have a pet, don’t have one because their parents don’t allow them. Our interviews showed very similar findings. Here we found out more about how children feel about animals. They feel very sad when a pet of theirs dies and believe that they should bury it. Since most children in the questionnaire answered that we should help injured animals we wanted to find out how they would do that. In our interviews we found that most would take the injured animal to a vet. Children also feel that animals should not be left in the roads when they are run over but that the municipality should move them. Finally, through our interviews we found out that most children who do not have a pet, don’t have one because their parents don’t allow them.

19The Grammar Junior School Discussion Most of the data we collected did not surprise us and turned out as we predicted. Children are kind to animals, they like animals and like to look after them. In addition, it seems children don’t mind when dogs bark but also that they don’t have a definite opinion about dogs dirtying the pavements. Most of the data we collected did not surprise us and turned out as we predicted. Children are kind to animals, they like animals and like to look after them. In addition, it seems children don’t mind when dogs bark but also that they don’t have a definite opinion about dogs dirtying the pavements.

20The Grammar Junior School Conclusion Although our project was small and our findings were similar to our predictions we learnt a lot about the process of research and the possibilities it can give us. It was interesting to find out how children behave towards pets and stray animals and that mostly they are kind and that they like animals. Although our project was small and our findings were similar to our predictions we learnt a lot about the process of research and the possibilities it can give us. It was interesting to find out how children behave towards pets and stray animals and that mostly they are kind and that they like animals. If we could do this project again we would change some things. First of all we found out that some of our questions in the questionnaire were not clear or straight forward and some children could not answer them with just one choice. We also found out that interviews need a lot of time, not only in carrying out the interviews but also in transcribing and analyzing. We would give this more time. It would also be nice to find out what the younger children in our school think. If we could do this project again we would change some things. First of all we found out that some of our questions in the questionnaire were not clear or straight forward and some children could not answer them with just one choice. We also found out that interviews need a lot of time, not only in carrying out the interviews but also in transcribing and analyzing. We would give this more time. It would also be nice to find out what the younger children in our school think.

21The Grammar Junior School References Kellet, M (2005) How to Develop Children as Researchers Kellet, M (2005) How to Develop Children as Researchers Sage Publications Company. Sage Publications Company. childrens-research-centre.open.ac.uk childrens-research-centre.open.ac.uk

22The Grammar Junior School Appendix Interview: Children’s attitudes towards pets and stray animals at the Grammar Junior School. 1. What do you like most about your pet? 2. Where do you think people should keep their pets? In the house? Outside the house? Why? 3. Do you have a pet? How do you feel when a pet of yours dies? 4. What do you do with your pet when it dies? 5. If you don’t have a pet, why don’t you have one? 6. Should we feed stray animals? Explain your answer. 7. What do you think is the best way to help an injured animal? 8. What should be done when an animal is run over?

23The Grammar Junior School Appendix Byron & Stevie Rolandos & Eric Marcos & Jessica Nicolas & Adamos Sample Interviews:

24The Grammar Junior School Our interviews Our interviews

25The Grammar Junior School Gathering data Gathering data

26The Grammar Junior School