Animal Testing Flashcards
(48 cards)
what are the 3 R’s?
Reduction
Refinement
Replacement
how is the number of animals used reduced
improving experimental techniques
improving techniques of data analysis
sharing information with other researchers
What is refinement
refining the experiment or the way the animals are cared for so as to reduce their suffering
how does refinement occur
using less invasive techniques
better medical care
better living conditions
What are the 3 R’s for?
a set of principles that scientists are encouraged to follow in order to reduce the impact of research on animals
they must consider each one to ensure using animals is the only way to conduct research
who set criteria for for psychologists who use animals in research
The Scientific Procedures Act (1986) and the Home Office
how were animals treated previous to The Scientific Procedures Act (1986)
seen as research objects
some research would disregard the welfare of the animal in order to find scientific conclusions
The Scientific Procedures Act (1986)
covers all animal research
relates to any ‘scientific procedure that may cause pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm to a protected animal’
what animals come under the term ‘protected animals’
all non-human vertebrates and a single invertebrate species (the octopus)
Animal Welfare Act (2006)
discusses more general duties of care towards animals
psychologists are also directed to follow this act
The Animal Welfare Act (2006) in regards to breeding and testing
has rules regarding breeding and testing
e.g.
animals who have undergone general anaesthetics cannot be used for more procedures
The Animal Welfare Act (2006) in regards to the psychologists responsibility to care for animals when they are not being used in the study.
animal should have suitable accommodation and environment
suitable food water and space to maintain its well-being
researchers should consider ways to reduce potential distress when caging animals
The Animal Welfare Act (2006) in regards to protecting animals during research
work must be carried out in a scientific procedure establishment
procedures must be carried out by someone holding a project license
6 factors which must be followed before, during and after the study when animal participants are used.
The Law
Food deprivation - may not cause suffering
Electric shocks
Pain, distress and surgery
Understanding Species Differences
Minimum no. of animals & endangered species
Cost-Benefit analysis
6 factors - The Law
laws protect the rights of non-human animals
anyone who fails to comply with these laws can be prosecuted
permission to work with animals is granted by the Home Office by license only under very specific conditions
6 factors - food deprivation
it must not cause suffering
Gray (1987) - rates are either fed once daily, following experimentation or are maintained at 85% of their free-feeding body weight
6 factors - pain, distress and surgery
without an HO licence and relevant certificates, procedures causing pain, distress or involving surgery are illegal
must be able to show that there are no alternative ways of conducting the experiment
6 factors - minimum number of animals and endangered species
if animal’s studies are to be conducted they must only use the minimum number of animals required to produce valid and reliable results
6 factors - cost-benefit analysis - 3 main criteria that should be taken into account regarding the justifiability of research
the quality of research
the amount of suffering
the likelihood of benefit
Bateson’s decision cube 1988
must be a high level of the quality of research
must be a high certainty of benefit against a low level of suffering
researchers must be able to justify the cost/ harm to the animals in relation to the likely benefits of the research
ethological methods are designed to
observing animals in their natural environment to understand their behavior
provide insight about animals as often and as naturally as possible`
what percentage of psychological research uses animals according to the American Psychological Association
8%
what percentage of animals used in experiments are rodents and birds
90%
what percentage of animals used in experiments are primates
5%
