Animals in psychological research

Question 1

Why are animals used in Psychological research?

Answer 1

1. Convenient models (processes like learning)
2. A way to carry out procedures that couldn’t ethically be done on humans. (isolation or brain surgery)
3. Interesting creatures (communication of whales)
4. Controls - animals can be easier to control than humans. They don’t complain and you can put them in situations humans wouldn’t agree to.

Question 2

Generalisability between animals and humans

Answer 2

The differences between humans and animals are great so it may be difficult to generalise animal experiments to humans.
* Animals can’t talk and express their emotions in different ways to humans. This makes some research impossible to use animals for.

Question 3

Bateson (1986)

Answer 3

Some researchers question if animals suffering outweigh the benefits of the reseach > Links to real-world application.
Bateson thinks that when the certainty of benefit is high and the suffering is low, then the research can be considered worthwhile and ethical.

Question 4

Ethical issues - Code of Conduct (animals)

Answer 4

1. Replacement - Researchers should consider replacing animals with other options.
2. Species – Chosen species should be the least likely to suffer pain and distress.
3. Number of animals – Keep to the minimum needed
4. Procedures – Animals experiences in the study should be positive
5. Pain, suffering and distress – Should be avoided, natural occurring instances may be used
6. Housing – Should recreate natural habitat, overcrowding and isolation should not occur
7. Reward, deprivation and aversive stimuli – In planning studies deprivation and aversive stimuli should be avoided, reward should be used instead.