Animal research acts, strengths, weaknesses Flashcards
What does The Scientific Procedures Act (1986) generally cover?
Relates to scientific procedures that may cause pain, suffering, distress, or lasting harm to protected animal
Psychologists have to apply to this act
What is the Animal Welfare Act (2006)?
General duties of care towards animals
What do the acts cover?
- All procedures carried out by someone with project license
- Carried out in scientific establishment
- Rules regarding breeding + testing
- Humane killing (to get rid of suffering)
- Animals must come from designated breeders/suppliers
- Suitable accommodation, food, water, space
- Overcrowding avoided
- Social species caged with others of same species
What 3 aspects did Bateson (2011) come up with for cost benefit analysis?
How good the research is, benefits of the findings, degree of animal suffering
Why do human studies have more credibility?
More likely to tell us accurate info about human behaviour
Some reject argument of evolutionary continuity- believe humans + animals are separate
Animal studies criticised for being anthropomorphic
What is anthropomorphism?
Believing animals behaviours are due to same type of thinking + reasoning as humans
What are the 3 R’s?
Reduce, replace, refine
What does reduce mean?
Reduce number of animals used
What does replace mean?
Replace use of animals where possible with non-sentient alternatives
What does refine mean?
Refine procedures for least impact on animals
How can we reduce?
- Improve experimental techniques
- Improve data analysis techniques
- Share info with other researchers
How can we replace?
- Cell cultures instead of whole animals
- Computer models
- Human volunteers
How can we refine?
- Use less invasive techniques
- Better medical care
- Better living conditions
