Research Methods- Observations And Animal Ethics Flashcards
What is The Scientific Procedures Act (1986)?
An act that covers and protects all animal research and scientific procedures that may cause pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm to a protected animal.
What animals does The scientific Procedures Act (1986) protect?
All non-human vertebrates and a single invertebrate species (the octopus)
What is the Animal Welfare Act (2006)?
Discusses more general duties of care towards animals
What does the Scientific Procedure Act (SPA) enforce in terms of who can carry out procedures on animals?
All procedures must be carried out by someone holding a project licence and that work must be carried out in a scientific procedure establishment
What is an example of some of the SPA’s rules regarding breeding and testing?
Cats and dogs can only be used if specifically bred for lab purposes and animals who have had general anaesthetics can’t be used for more procedures
What measures should be put in place when caring for an animal not being used in a study?
- suitable accommodation/ environment
- suitable food + water
- suitable amount of space
- noover crowding when caging animals
- social species be caged with others of its kind
What are the three R’s about?
A set of principles that scientists are encouraged to follow in order to reduce the impact of the research on animals
What is the first R, reduction about?
Reducing the number of animals used in experiments by:
- improving experimental techniques
- improving techniques of data analysis
- sharing information with other researchers
What is the second R, refinement?
Refining the experiment or the way the animals are cared for so to reduce the suffering by:
- using less invasive techniques
- better medical care
- better living conditions
What is the final R, replacement?
Replacing experiments on animals with alternative techniques such as:
- experimenting on cell cultures instead of whole animals
- using computer models
- studying human volunteers
- using epidemiological studies
What are the main aims of the animal ethical guidelines?
- Avoid/ minimise discomfort
- Discuss research with colleagues and H.O inspectors
- Do the ends justify the mean
- Consider alternatives
What does the animal ethics guideline say about the law?
- anyone who fails to comply with these laws can be prosecuted
- the Home Office has an inspection system to ensure that rules are not violated
What does the animal ethics guideline say about food deprivation?
- it may not cause suffering
- researchers should consider the normal feeding/ drinking patterns of animals
- animals either fed after experiment or maintained at 85% of free-feeding body weight
- if food is available as a reward this could be considered meeting the rules
What does the animal ethics guideline say about the electric shocks?
- they may cause some, but not extreme pain
- the Home office controls the permissible level of shock
What does the animal ethics guideline say about the pain, distress and surgery?
- without a HO licence and relevant certificates, procedures causing pain, distress or involving surgery are illegal
- must be able to show that there is no alternative way of conducting the experiment
- animals must be given time to recover and if they are unable to recover, they should be euthanised in a humane way to stop further suffering
What does the animal ethics guideline say about understanding species differences?
- animals should be caged appropriately so that environment is similar to natural setting and there is enough space to move freely
- understanding the stress caused by marking animals for identification
- social animals should be in a social setting with companions and a source of cognitive stimulation e.g monkeys
- disturbance of non-human animals should be kept to a minimum
What does the animal ethics guideline say about cost-benefit analysis?
There are 3 main criteria that should be taken into account regarding the justifiability of research:
- the quality of research
- amount of suffering
- likelihood of benefit
What is the difference between zoology and psychological studies?
Zoology= methods primarily designed to provide insight about animals in as natural a way as possible
Psychological studies= animals are studied in an artificial environment that allows for precise control and measurement of variable
According to the American Psychological Association, what percentage of psychological research uses animals?
8%
What percentage of these animals are:
- rodents and birds
- primates
- dogs and cats
- rodents and birds = 90%
- primates = 5%
- dogs and cats =rarely
Why do we study animals to understand human behaviour?
- animals have shorter life spans so less amount of suffering
- same species of animals have very few individual differences so easier to generalise findings
- smaller so easier to breed
- convenient practical as can keep in cages
- provide explanations to a lot of human behaviours
What does an animal experiment consist of?
- artificial tasks
- controlled variables
- standardised tasks
- scientific setting
An example is Pavlov’s dog. Salivation in response to a metronome was tested, there were sanded floors, metronome ticked right before presentation of food, and extraneous variables e.g noise were controlled for using sound proof rooms
What are the strengths of using animal studies?
- Animals are small and easy to handle
- Many animals have short reproductive systems
- Some animals have similar brain structures to humans
- Higher validity as animals are naive participants
- Larger samples readily available
- Studies can easily be repeated
- Higher control of variables
What are the weaknesses of using animal studies?
- Brains of animals not exactly the same as humans
- Human lives are complex and rarely occur in isolation
- Many differences between humans and animals
- May be expensive as only the highest level of care acceptable
