THE RESEARCH OF THE ATTITUDE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS TO MODERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES BY MEANS OF ZOOMETAPHORS

The purpose of the research. The study is devoted to the analysis of schoolchildren’s attitude to modern digital technologies (Internet, computers, and mobile phones). Methods or methodology of the research. The main method of the research is an association experiment. Schoolchildren’s attitude to Internet, computers, mobile phones is analyzed with the help of zoometaphors (associations with animals). Results of the research. It was identified that schoolchildren mostly associate Internet with a wild, rapacious and strong animal (a tiger, a bear, a lion). This reflects the feelings of respect, admiration, authority recognition. A computer more frequently stands for domestic animals (a cat, a dog) as something familiar, good, clear, friendly, joyful. The most currently occurred association to “a mobile phone” is a parrot. It reflects such characteristics of schoolchildren’s attitude to a mobile phone as a possibility of verbal communication, as well as a chance to stand out, to draw attention to oneself. The study showed that schoolchildren’s attitude towards digital technologies represent characteristics of their own attitude to themselves (the correlation between the images “I am real” and “I am ideal”). Scope of application. The data of the research are of great practical importance for professional activities of lecturers, psychologists in providing schoolchildren’s mental well-being and preventing them from computer-, mobile- and Internet-addiction disorders. Final results. The main results of the study showed that the animals associating with Internet, computers and mobile phones are in most cases correspond with the children’s ideas about ideal animals and the animals that look like them, and are not represented at the level of “shady”, personal traits of character unaccepted by the children.