Postoje univerzitních studentů pedagogicky orientovaných studijních programů k homosexualitě měřené na škále Homosexuality Attitude Scale

The aim of the study is to assess the attitudes of students of educationally‑oriented study programs towards homosexuality and determine what they are influenced by. The paper argues the importance of the topic in education, and gives an overview of conclusions of selected Czech and foreign research studies dealing with the issue of heterosexuals’ attitudes towards homosexuality. Furthermore, the aims, methodology and findings from the actual research survey are presented. Finally, recommendations for pre-graduate education of future teachers are presented and suggestions for further research are given. The aim of the research was to determine the attitudes of students of educationally-oriented study programs towards homosexuality. The research instrument was the Homosexuality Attitude Scale developed by Kite and Deaux (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.91). Data collection took place in October and November 2014. The sample consists of 1,140 respondents. On average, the attitudes of students of pedagogical study programmes towards homosexuality are relatively positive (average HAS score = 88.77 from a theoretical range of 12–105; lower values indicate a more negative attitude towards homosexuality). Significantly more negative attitudes towards homosexuality were found in men, students of initial years of study, and members of the Roman Catholic or other church or religious society. The findings imply a need to form attitudes of future teachers towards homosexuality by means of cognitive-affective interventions in formal education.