Plant Blindness Intensity Throughout the School and University Years: A Cross-Age Study

Abstract

AbstractPlant blindness refers to the human tendency to ignore and underestimate plants, especially compared to animals. Assessing the intensity of plant blindness throughout school and university years can provide valuable clues for the design of educational intervention programs that will reverse this limited interest in plants. The aim of this study is to assess the intensity of plant blindness amongst the Greek student population, to highlight possible correlations between the phenomenon’s core elements through a network analysis and to examine how these correlations alter as students move from primary school to university. 1275 Greek students participated in our study. Their attitudes towards plants were assessed using five-point Likert-type scale items. By examining the levels of schooling individually, certain conclusions were drawn regarding the grade during which the problem is more intense. In particular, the phenomenon seems to be present in all grades, but it seems to be more intense during the high school years. Furthermore, important alterations have been recorded in the phenomenon’s core elements’ network analysis in each grade. Our findings support the general idea of a greater preference for animals than plants and enhance the concern about the reduced emphasis on plant life in educational systems worldwide.