Dissection Survey, 3/2004

Total responses so far: 749

Which grade level do you teach?

Response
Percent
Count
high school 54.9%
411
middle school 38.3%
287
other 5.5%
41

Do you think dissection activities are an important part of science learning?

Response
Percent
Count
yes 79.8%
598
no 16.6%
124
no opinion 2.0%
15

Do your classroom lessons include dissection activities with animal specimens?

Response
Percent
Count
yes 75.2%
563
no 23.2%
174

If you answered yes to Question 3, please answer questions a-e.

Do your students do full or partial dissections?

Response
Percent
Count
full 34.4%
258
both 25.4%
190
partial 15.5%
116

In which subjects do you offer dissection activities? (Check all that apply.)

life science

Response
Percent
Count
checked 28.0%
210

general science

Response
Percent
Count
checked 10.1%
76

biology

Response
Percent
Count
checked 43.9%
329

advanced biology

Response
Percent
Count
checked 21.2%
159

anatomy/physiology

Response
Percent
Count
checked 22.8%
171


Has the frequency of your dissection activities changed over the past 5 years?
Response
Percent
Count
stayed the same 44.3%
332
decreased 22.4%
168
increased 10.4%
78

If they have decreased, why? (Check all that apply.)

lack of budget to purchase dissection specimens
Response
Percent
Count
checked 14.0%
105

availability of good quality alternatives and simulations
Response
Percent
Count
checked 3.5%
26

personal preference
Response
Percent
Count
checked 6.5%
49

pressure to decrease dissection activities
Response
Percent
Count
checked 3.9%
29

activities do not match state or national standards
Response
Percent
Count
checked 6.7%
50

don’t feel dissection activities significantly increase student learning
Response
Percent
Count
checked 5.1%
38

other
Response
Percent
Count
checked 4.7%
35


How would you characterize the number of students who in the past year have asked to be excused from dissection activities?
Response
Percent
Count
very few 44.2%
331
none 25.6%
192
some 5.7%
43
many 1.2%
9

If you do not use animal dissection activities, why? (Check all that apply.)

lack of funds to purchase dissection specimens
Response
Percent
Count
checked 7.6%
57

limited availability of quality alternatives and simulations
Response
Percent
Count
checked 2.7%
20

personal preference
Response
Percent
Count
checked 10.1%
76

pressure to eliminate dissection activities
Response
Percent
Count
checked 1.9%
14

activities do not match state or national standards
Response
Percent
Count
checked 6.9%
52

don’t feel dissection activities significantly increase student learning
Response
Percent
Count
checked 12.8%
96

other
Response
Percent
Count
checked 9.3%
70


Do alternative dissection options, such as simulations, meet your educational goals?
Response
Percent
Count
no 48.1%
360
yes 34.7%
260
no opinion 14.4%
108