Animal Studies Flashcards
What are lab studies of this kind often intended to allow?
Why might this type of research be used?
Allows extrapolation (generalisation) from animals to humans.
Is used when it would not be appropriate or ethical to test theories of humans.
What % of psychological research uses animals according to American psychological association?
What % are rodents and birds and what % are primates
What animals are rarely used?
1)8%
2)90%
3)5%
4)dogs and cats
Why might psychosocial researchers use animals?
Interest-this is what physchologists are interested in
Insight to humans behaviour- can offer explanations of human behaviour if we accept that humans and animals are basically the same but at different stages of evolution.
Conveinience and practicality-animals reproduce more rapidly that’s humans and therefore we can study them across the life-span far more quickly.
Control-animals are easier to control than humans which means its easier to conduct experiments (controlled variables)
Arguments for the use of animals
It benefits human species: Gray (1991) argues that we have a responsibility to our species to understand as much as we can and this is a moral responsibility.
Evolution means we have similarities with animals and generalising findings from animals studies is appropriate.
Practical to use of animals due to a shorter breeding cycle, where it is not practical top use humans.
There are now sufficient guidelines, rules and laws in place to protect animals-ethical
Arguments against the use of animals
No animal should be used in any studies; making research more humane is not enough. There is never justification and cost vs benefit analysis is not appropiate.
Shouldn’t carry studies out on animals that we should do on humans; singer called this ‘speciesism’ and says its like racism.
Animals are different from humans, such as in having different drives and consciousness; meaning findings from animals studies are not useful so it’s not ethical to carry out.
Research with animals lacks validity sufficiency (and generalisability) so they should not be carried out and it is not ethical because the findings have no value .
Ethical issue weaknesses.
-Many animals feel pain
-Animals in experiments are not in their natural surroundings, and therefore distressing conditions
-some procedures require accessing specific parts of the brain that might then be damaged.
-cause extrapolation- generalisation from animals to humans.
Ethical issue stengths.
-drugs have been developed that could otherwise not have been developed
-the Knowledge obtained may also improve the lives of the species being tested on.
Procedural issues weaknesses
-the Brains and genetic structure of animals are not the same as humans so results may not be generalisable
-human lives are complex and factors rarely occur in isolation
-some diseases (Parkinson’s) have to be replicated in animals using drugs, and so may not be the same as the disease itself, therefore studies might lack validity
Procedural issue strengths.
-Some procedures require control over the environment, this may not be possible with humans.
-Some animals have very short gestation periods and short reproductive cycles.
-relatively small and easy to handle, some animals (mice) have a similar brain structure to humans.
What is the animals (scientific procedures) act 1986
only specific procedure that may cause pain, suffering or distress
In order for animal research and testing to occur, the research needs:
-A licence from home officer
-The premises must be licenced for animal research
-Lab animals must be procured from ‘high quality suppliers’ who comply with home officer standards.
What are the 3 R’s?
When permission to perform a regulated process is requested (R
ussel and Burch 1959)
Replacing-animals with non sentient alternatives whenever possible.
Reducing-number if animals used.
Refining-producers to minimise suffering.
Batesons cube
Patrick Bateson (2012) has suggested a convenient way of weighing up ethical decisions about animals in research: the “decision cube”.
There are three “sides” to the cube.
* The degree/cost of animal suffering: ethical research minimises this
* The benefits of the findings: ethical research will have clear benefits
* The quality of the research: ethical research will be highly valid and reliable
Ideally, the cube should be as “hollow” as possible. Ethical research will be highly beneficial, high quality research with minimal suffering to the animals; on the other hand, painful, low quality research without clear benefits must be avoided.
Guidelines for psychologists working with animals (2012)
-4 guidelines
Legal Requirements: Research must not break the law regarding endangered and protected species. This particularly restricts research involving great apes.
Animal Care: When not being studied, animals must be housed, fed and watered in a suitable way as well as being given space and companionship appropriate to their species
Disposal: When the research is over, animals should be disposed of humanely; ideally they should be kept alive for breeding or as pets
Procedures: Animals must be treated humanely during research. The BPS gives special consideration to these three areas: caging, deprivation and pain.
These guidelines are based on a Cost-Benefit Model, which means that research which breaks some Guidelines sometimes might be allowable if the benefits seem to outweigh the “costs” in terms of animal suffering.
what does the British psychological society (BPS) state?
states that permission to perform animal procedures regulated under the 1986 act will not be regulated unless the researcher can justify the costs to the animals in relation to the likely benefits of the research.
restricts someone from simply using animals in experiments because there is a curious interest.
what is the animal welfare act (2006)
more general duties of care towards animals.
