32nd Annual Student Research Conference
Student Perceptions of Service and Emotional Support Animals
Chloe C. Shoulders* and Monique M. Maxwell
Dr. Jessica Colpoys, Faculty Mentor
Animal assisted intervention is a broad term that describes the purposeful integration of animals into an intervention that provides benefit to humans. The objective of this study was to evaluate student perceptions of the use of two types of assistance animals, service animals and emotional support animals. We hypothesize that there are more negative perceptions towards the use of emotional support animals than service animals. A survey with open-ended questions about participant beliefs about service and emotional support animals was administered to students through an online survey platform (n = 76). Content analysis of survey responses was used to identify the prevalent themes or perspectives emerging from participant responses. Emerging themes and perspectives will be presented.
Keywords: Dogs, Emotional support animal, Service animal, Qualitative analysis, Survey
Topic(s):Agricultural Science
Psychology
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 11-1
Location: SUB GEO
Time: 3:00