Research Methods: Animal Use

Question 1

What are the positive of the use of animals in Lab experiments?

Answer 1

+Basic conditioning processes are the same in all animals = generalisable
+Fewer ethical issues than humans
Informed consent not required and could not use humans in some cases.
+Using mammals makes animal studies more generalisable.

Question 2

What are the negatives of the use of animals in Lab experiments?

Answer 2

-Complex behaviours aren’t the same as human behaviour is controlled by higher cognitive thinking.
-Unethical
Pain can be unavoidable and the benefits of the studies don’t outweigh harm in all cases.
-Guidelines regulating animal ethics aren’t always followed.

Question 3

Who created the ethical guidelines?

Answer 3

Scientific procedures act (1986) and home office regulations.

Question 4

Which animals are protected by ethical guidelines?

Answer 4

Only vertebrate animals.

Question 5

What are the 3 R’s?

Answer 5

Replacement
Reduction
Refinement

Question 6

What are the 3 ethical arguments of animal use in Lab experiments?

Answer 6

1. Pain and distress.
   Do animals experience pain in the same way humans do?
2. Speciesism.
   Discrimination on the basis is species is no different to racism.
3. Rights of animals
   Whatever produces the greater good for the largest number of individuals is ethically acceptable.