Methods

Question 1

Describe observations

Answer 1

• There are 2 types of observation sampling = event and time
• Event sampling is where the observer records each event that meets a predetermined list of behaviours
• Time sampling is when the researcher decides on a time interval and records what behaviour is occurring at each interval
  There are 2 types of observational methods = structured and unstructured
  4 observational designs:
• Overt - those being observed are aware of the presence of the observer
• Covert = those being observed are not aware of the presence of the observer
• Participant = observer participates in ongoing activities and records observations
• Non-participant = observer does not participate directly in the activities being observed

Question 2

What is the act that brought about ethical guidelines on experimenting on animals?

Answer 2

The Scientific Procedures Act - The Animal Act (1986)

Question 3

List the 8 ethical guidelines for animals

Answer 3

1) Housing and care
2) Anesthesia and euthanasia
3) Ethics and legislation
4) Number of animals used
5) Wild animals
6) Suppliers
7) Isolation and crowding
8) Reward and deprivation

Question 4

Summarise the ‘housing and care’ ethical guideline

Answer 4

Animals should be given enough food and water of their diet and should be kept in their appropriate environment with enough space to move freely

Question 5

Summarise the ‘anesthesia and euthanasia’ ethical guideline

Answer 5

Animals should be protected from pain and euthanised if they are experiencing suffering

Question 6

Summarise the ‘ethics and legislation’ ethical guideline

Answer 6

Researchers should ensure that the costs to the animals must be justified by the scientific benefit of the research and alternatives should be considered wherever harm is caused

Question 7

Summarise the ‘number of animals used’ ethical guideline

Answer 7

Only the minimum number of animals should be used

Question 8

Summarise the ‘wild animals’ ethical guideline

Answer 8

Disturbance to wild animals should be minimised, using lab reared animals over wild animals

Question 9

Summarise the ‘suppliers’ ethical guideline

Answer 9

All captive-bred animals used by the researcher should be obtained from a Home Office registered supplier

Question 10

Summarise the ‘isolation and crowding’ ethical guideline

Answer 10

When caging the animals, researchers should avoid overcrowding to reduce stress and isolation for social animals

Question 11

Summarise the ‘reward and deprivation’ ethical guideline

Answer 11

When studying deprivation, researchers should consider the animal’s usual dieting patterns and when studying reinforcement researchers should deprive the animal of food giving the preferred food as a reward