Disability in the perception of students. Results of research on attitudes toward people with disabilities

Abstract

The aim of the presented paper is to reveal selected results of research on the perception of people with disabilities and attitudes toward this group as declared by students from pedagogical and non-pedagogical fields of study.

The presented research was conducted with a group of 110 persons, divided into two equal subgroups: 55 students from pedagogical programs and 55 students from non-pedagogical programs. The diagnostic survey method and questionnaire technique were used, utilizing a survey questionnaire. The pilot study presented, allows for the following conclusions:

1. The majority of the surveyed students have a positive perception of individuals with disabilities and exhibit positive social attitudes towards them, with ambivalent attitudes being significantly less frequent. There are also a few negative declarations, but these are relatively rare.
2. The differences between students from pedagogical and non-pedagogical programs regarding their attitudes towards individuals with disabilities are relatively minor and generally not statistically significant. Statistical significance was only found in one case, concerning the emotional and volitional components of negative attitudes (specifically the belief that individuals with disabilities are a "burden" to family and society). This situation requires further analysis.
3. It can be assumed that the attitudes declared by the students towards individuals with disabilities are related to various other factors that influence their overall social perception, internalized patterns of interpersonal behaviour, and, most importantly, direct interactions with people with disabilities.