Animal Research and ethics Flashcards
Animal Research- A01
Benefits
Benefits
- Animal models are useful in exploring areas in which it would not be possible to in humans (practical and ethical issues) and can help to reduce human suffering
- We have similar hormones and nervous system to animals and the same basic brain structure as mammals such as rats. We all have a hind-mid and fore- brain so we can reasonably assume that the biological processes that determine our development and functioning are the same
- Animals can be kept in controlled conditions outside the experimental situation, therefore eliminating even more extraneous variables. Can manipulate environment to a degree greater than in human experimentation
- Evolutionary continuity- states that non human animals are similar enough to humans to extrapolate results from one species to another eg internal biochemistry works in the same way, through release of same basic hormones and similar chemical transmitters
- Behaviorists believe that the differences between humans and animals are quantitive(quantity over quality)- see no issue using animals in research
- Convenient as participants as they reproduce and for through the life cycle quickly so certain areas such as nature/nurture effects on age can be studied effectively. Greater objectivity is obtained as there is no risk of experimenter involvement or demand characteristics
- Allows us to generate a hypothesis/testing hypothesis which we can test later onto humans. Can be useful in testing relationships found by correlation
Animal Research
A03- Continuity argument
According to Darwin’s (1859) theory of evolution we have EVOLVED from animals as supported by the similar amity in basics physiology and the nervous system of nearly all mammals. He argued for an EVOLUTIONARY CONTINUUM, which means that differences between humans and animals are QUANTITIVE, not qualitative. This means that comparisons are VALID and so research on animals provides GENUINE HUMAN INSIGHTS
Animal research
A03- Research contributions and practical applications
Animal research has given great insights into vital areas of medicine including diseases, drug treatments, organ transplants, surgical techniques and cloning. Most of what is known about the brain, envious system and sensory systems are based on animal research. The approach of behaviorism is based on animals research and conditioning techniques have be successfully used in therapeutic settings eg systematic desensitization for phobias. Therefore, displaying animals research does make an important contribution.
Animal research
A03- Animal rights
Animals rights argument claims all animals have rights to be treated with respect and not harmed. Therefore, animal research is not justifiable under any conditions as almost always it causes some kind of physical or psychological harm, safeguards such as using naturalistic methods, decreasing their number don’t justify the indefensible
Animal Research
A03- Scientific Arguments
Animal research can be criticized because it is often repetitive and transparent, it addresses problems where the answer is self-evident. The value of such research is further questioned as it lacks ecological validity and mundane realism as well as limited generalizability. This reduces the scientific credibility of the research. Extrapolation may also reduce the validity of the research, generalizations between animals and humans are guilty of anthropomorphism suggesting comparisons are not valid or credible
Ethics
A01
The 3 R’s of the Scientific Procedures Act (1986)
-Set of principles scientists are encouraged to follow in order to reduce the impact of research on animals
-Must consider each one to ensure using animals is the only way to conduct the research- if so the species and number used= appropriate
REDUCTION(in the number of animals used)=
Done through; improving experimental techniques, techniques of data analysis, sharing information with other researcher
REFINEMENT=Refining the experiment/way animals are cared for to reduce their suffering
Done through; Using less invasive techniques, better medical care, Better living conditions
REPLACEMENT= Replacing the experiments on animals with alternative techniques
Done through; experimenting on cell cultures instead of whole animals, using computer models, using human volunteers, using epidemiological studies
Animal Ethical Guidelines
A01
Main aim of ethical guidelines-
- Avoid/minimise discomfort
- Discuss research with colleagues and H.O inspectors
- Do the ends justify the mean
- Consider alternatives
Very different to human BPS guidelines eg no consent needed
Animal Ethical guidelines
A01-Law
The Law; laws are in place protecting the rights of non-human animals, failure to comply can lead to prosecution
- ‘Animals Scientific Procedures’ bill (1986) passed= control the use of animals in all kinds of scientific research
- Home office regulations state anyone carrying out a regulated procedure must hold a PROJECT LICENSE
- Home office also gives permission to work with animals, which is only given under very specific conditions, there is an inspection system to ensure that the rules are not violated
Animal Ethical Guidelines
A01-Food Deprivation
Food deprivation: should not be used to cause suffering.
- When planning deprivation studies researcher should consider the normal feeding/drinking patterns of animals (dependent of species)
- Gray (1987); rats most commonly used experimental subjects in psych, are either fed ONCE DAILY, following experimentation, or maintained at 85% of their free feeding body weight
- Both of these practices are healthier than allowing rats to eat freely
- Studying reinforcement it may be necessary to deprive an animal of food, but if its still available as a reward this could still meet the rules
Animal Ethical Guidelines
A01-Electric shock
Electric shock; based on observations of animal’s behaviours, electric shock may cause some but not extreme pain
- The Home Office (HO) controls the permissible level of shock, monitors implementation of The Animals Scientific Procedures Act (1986)
- Average shock level is 0.68 mili-amperes, averaging 0.5 secs= produces an unpleasant tickling sensation in humans
Animal Ethical Guidelines
A01-Pain, distress and surgery
Pain, distress and surgery; without HO license no relevant certificates, procedures causing pain, distress or involving surgery are illegal
- If you have a license and relevant certificates- must be able to show there is no alternative ways of conducting the experiment
- Experienced staff must carry out surgical procedures
- Animals must be given time to recover and if unable they should be euthanized in a humane and respectable manner to stop further suffering
Animal Ethical Guidelines
A01- Understanding species differences
Understanding species differences; guidelines stress the importance of understanding species differences in relation to;
- Caging and social environment= should be housed with enough space to move freely. Environment must be similar to those of its natural setting eg warmth, exercise etc
- Caging should look to reduce potential stress, not overcrowding the animals and social species caged with others of its kind
- The stress caused to wild animals when marking them for identifications, or attaching radio transmitters to them
- If an animal is a social being it should be in a social setting with companions and a source of cognitive stimulation where appropriate eg monkeys
- Disturbance of non human animals should be kept to a minimum= simple observation may adversely affect some species breeding + survival success eg use lab reared monkeys over wild
- If animals are to be studied in their natural habitat then species itself should be considered and the ecosystem to which it is a part
Animal Ethical Guidelines
A01- Minimum number of animals and endangered species
Minimum number of animals and endangered species; in the UK, Germany, Netherlands + other European countries= number of animal experimentation halved since 1970s
- UK uses about 3 million non-human animals in experiments each year (85% rats, mice and other rodents)
- If animal’s studies are to be conducted they must only use the minimum number of animals required to produce valid and reliable results
- Endangered species can be used if there is appropriate justification that other species cannot be used
Animal Ethical Guidelines
A01- Cost benefit analysis
Cost Benefit analysis; UK, Australia, Germany and several other countries require a cost-benefit analysis to be carried out before undertaking experimentation.
- Would provide considerations of pain, distress and death of non human animals vs gaining new knowledge and the development of new medical therapies for humans
- BPS clearly states permission to perform animal procedures regulated under the 1986 act won’t be granted unless researcher can justify the costs to the animals in relation to the likely benefits of research
- Restricts someone from using animals in research if there is curious interest
Animal Ethical Guidelines
A01- Bateson’s decision cube
Bateson(1986); developed a system to help researchers decide whether or not planned research using non human animals should go ahead
3main Criteria:
-Quality of the research= can be assessed by funding agency, considers if the quality is high and the findings will have definite benefit
-The amount of suffering= The animals behaviour and any signs of stress can assess this. It’s difficult to put oneself inside the mind of an animal and assess the degree to which a certain animal is experiencing pain as a result of the procedure. Some animals when faced with danger remain rigid and silent as it is the safest thing to do- we may not recognise behaviour as a sign of stress
-The likelihood of benefit= Drawing hypotheses about how it will help us gain insight into human behaviour and if it will be useful. Can be hard to judge in advance, it is important as animals suffer unnecessarily
