A multidimensional study linking empathy and violence to animal intervention

This study explored high school students' levels and expressions of empathy through animal intervention in a classroom. An animal intervention is defined in this study as a direct interaction of students with a dog in the classroom, specifically the impact on dog named Lacey made on fourteen ninth graders and their levels of empathy study also explored prior research related to humane education.

Twenty-eight students from a west Phoenix area school district, representing a group of at-risk teens, participated in this study. Quantitative and qualitative research methods were used in a multidimensional approach. Survey, observations and focus groups were used for data collections.

Students responded to a survey which focused on evaluating students' levels of empathy and caring by asking questions that placed the students in situations that engage empathic responses. For example, students were asked if they felt sad when seeing someone cry. The survey was distributed prior to the dog being introduced into the classroom and then twice more after the removal of the dog. The students were observed throughout the nine-week period and a focus group was conducted to gather supporting data. The survey responses were based on a Likert scale including. Always, Almost Always, Sometimes, Almost Never and Never. The shift in response after the animal intervention indicated a change in central tendency from the Never to the Sometimes and Almost Always categories which indicated an increase in empathic and caring response to the situational questions asked in the survey.

In conclusion, the study revealed the animal in the classroom became a catalyst for the students to exhibit increased caring and empathy as revealed by the surveys, observations and focus group. Simultaneously, the dog became, a positive influence on actions with each other.

Prior research in the area of humane education did not include the use of an animal in the classroom for an extended length of time. The students expressed increased empathy after the animal intervention. Widens used Lacey as a channel for discussion and communication. This study provides additional data to the current available literature.