Prevalence of Neuromyths About Neurodevelopmental Disorders Among Basic Education Teachers in Brazil

• Grant number: 24/23730-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Eduardo Padovan Neto
• Grantee: Guilherme Raul Aires de Mello
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research project aims to evaluate the level of knowledge of Brazilian basic education teachers regarding myths about neurodevelopmental disorders, with the following objectives:(1) to investigate whether participants can discriminate between true and false information about neurodevelopmental disorders,(2) through regression analyses, to explore to what extent the teachers' professional training - including their prior knowledge of neuroscience and their previous contact with neurodevelopmental disorders - can predict the endorsement of myths, and (3) to generate a feedback mechanism so that these teachers can access the correct answers and explanations about their truthfulness or falsity. Participants will be recruited non-probabilistically and will all answer the questionnaires - Sociodemographic Questionnaire and NeuroSENse Questionnaire (Adapted) - online, through the Google Forms platform, after accepting the Free and Informed Consent Term (TCLE). This study is relevant because, by investigating the prevalence of neurodevelopmental myths among basic education teachers, it seeks to contribute to the strengthening of teacher training and the improvement of pedagogical practice based on scientific information. In addition, it also encourages future studies on the subject, aiming to develop interventions that reduce the spread of neurodevelopmental myths.