ETHICS

AND ANIMALS

WHY STUDY ANIMALS ? (1)

Too unethical to use humans Too impractical to use humans Greater control over variables (e.g. Skinner

Box) There is an evolutionary continuity between humans and other species - we are quantitatively different NOT qualitatively different

WHY STUDY ANIMALS ? (2)

Animals are (mostly) smaller, so easier to study in laboratory conditions Developmental processes can be studied more efficiently Provides a jumping off point for research on humans Can investigate cause and effect when evidence in humans is only correlational Allows for phylogenetic (evolutionary) comparisons

ETHICAL GUIDELINES FOR RESEARCH USING ANIMALS

REGARD FOR THE LAW KNOWING THE SPECIES PROTECTING THE SPECIES PAIN AND DISTRESS

SURGERY, DRUGS AND ANAESTHESIA

THE ANIMAL STUDIES ON THE SYLLABUS

Gardner and Gardners (1969) attempt to

teach a chimpanzee to use sign language

Tinbergens (1952) study on the mating

behaviour of sticklebacks
Rawlins (1979) study on Forty years of

rhesus research

THE ANIMAL CORE STUDIES AND ETHICS (1)

The ethical issues involved in these three

studies include: removal from natural habitat (Protecting the species) behaviour change and control (Knowing the species)

THE ANIMAL CORE STUDIES AND ETHICS (2)

post-experimental care

(Protecting the species/ Pain and distress) not to mention castration!!!! (Pain and distress/ surgery, drugs and anaesthesia)

SPECIESISM
Speciesism is the animal equivalent to

sexism, racism, ageism etc. In using animals in the way we do are we being speciesist ? Or are we justified in carrying out research on animals ? And if we are justified, when, where and to what extent are we justified ?

EXTRAPOLATION
DOES IT MAKE SCIENTIFIC SENSE TO

EXTRAPOLATE FROM ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR TO HUMAN BEHAVIOUR ?

CAN WE GENERALISE ACROSS SPECIES ?

ANTHROPOMORHISM
IS IT VALID TO ASCRIBE ANIMALS WITH

HUMAN QUALITIES ? JUST BECAUSE WE FEEL PAIN, HAPPY, SAD, DISTRESSED ETC. DOES THIS MEAN THAT ANIMALS DO AS WELL ? ARE THE GARDNERS BEING ANTHROPOMORPHIC IN TRYING TO TEACH WASHOE SIGN LANGUAGE ?

RATOMORPHISM
BY USING ANIMALS AS MODELS OF HUMAN

BEHAVIOUR WE ARE EFFECTIVELY REGARDING HUMANS AS LABORATORY RATS IS IT ETHICALLY RIGHT TO REGARD HUMANS AS ANIMALS ?

SAFEGUARDS FOR ANIMAL RESEARCH (1)

Minimize/avoid discomfort Seek advice/info from experts BEFORE

commencing the research, particularly about its scientific worth Research is only to be done in licensed institutions (The Animals (Scientific Procedures Act) 1986)

SAFEGUARDS FOR ANIMAL RESEARCH (2)

Animals to be properly housed and named

technicians / vets to care for them

relates to post-experimental care as well relates to both Gardner & Gardner and Tinbergen
Field studies are preferable, but should

cause as little disruption as possible to avoid upsetting breeding and survival

relate this to Rawlins

SAFEGUARDS FOR ANIMAL RESEARCH (3)

HOWEVER !! These safeguards have had a

NEGATIVE EFFECT:
They have increased the number of animals

used by preventing the use of the same animal in more than one experiment
But the overall number of animals has, and

continues to, decline.