Ethical Considerations in Animal Research (HL IB Psychology)

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  • True or False?

    Researchers can apply the same ethical considerations when working with human and animal participants.

    False.

    Researchers are not able to apply the same ethical considerations when working with human and animal participants. E.g. it is impossible to gain informed consent from animals and they cannot be given the right to withdraw.

  • Which two bodies set out the ethical guidelines which apply to the use of animals?

    The British Psychological Society (BPS) and the American Psychological Association (APA) are two bodies that set out the ethical guidelines which apply to the use of animals.

  • What is a cost/benefit analysis?

    A cost/benefit analysis is what researchers must undertake when considering using animals in research: if the costs outweigh the benefits then the research should not take place.

  • Which is an alternative to the use of animals in research?

    a) Using cell cultures

    b) Computer simulations

    c) Conducting a meta-analysis

    d) All of the above

    d.

    Alternatives to the use of animals in research include using cell cultures, computer simulations and conducting a meta-analysis.

  • What are the three specific ethical guidelines that researchers must apply when using animals in research?

    The three specific ethical guidelines which researchers must apply when using animals in research are:

    • Replace

    • Reduce

    • Refine

  • What is meant by the ethical guideline 'replace'?

    The ethical guideline 'replace' is using alternatives to live animals for the purposes of research e.g. computer simulations or existing video footage of previous research.

  • True or False?

    The ethical guideline 'reduce' is to use as few animals as possible for the study and conduct a pilot study to ensure that procedural flaws are addressed and animals are not used thoughtlessly.

    True.

    The ethical guideline 'reduce' is to use as few animals as possible for the study and conduct a pilot study to ensure that procedural flaws are addressed and animals are not used thoughtlessly.

  • In animal research, how can researchers adhere to the ethical consideration 'refine'?

    In animal research, researchers can adhere to the ethical consideration: refine by:

    • analysing the procedures to ensure that animals do not suffer unnecessarily

    • limiting harmful elements e.g. keeping animal in isolations or interfering with their usual routines

    • avoiding overcrowding in laboratory cages

    • study animals in the wild, living in their natural environment

    • handling animals with care

  • Decreasing the sample size of animals used in a study is an example of applying the ethical guideline of:

    a) reduce

    b) refine

    c) replace

    a.

    Decreasing the sample size of animals used in a study is an example of applying the ethical guideline of 'reduce'.

  • How could the 'replace' ethical guideline apply to Weaver et al.'s (2004) study on rats and attachment?

    The 'replace' ethical guideline can be applied to Weaver et al. (2004) as the rats could be replaced via the use of existing studies on human attachment, such as Rutter’s (1998) research on Romanian orphans.

  • How could the 'replace' ethical guideline be applied to Lassi & Tucci's (2017) study on mice and epigenetic changes?

    The 'replace' ethical guideline could be applied to Lassi & Tucci (2017) by studying epigenetic changes in humans who have experienced fostering, using DNA analysis and interviews, instead of using mice in lab conditions.

  • Rosenzweig et al. (1972) could have used MRI technology with humans to avoid placing rats in impoverished environments - is this an example of applying the 'reduce' or 'replace' ethical guideline?

    Rosenzweig et al. (1972) could have used MRI technology with humans to avoid placing rats in impoverished environments - this an example of applying the 'replace' ethical guideline.

  • How could the 'reduce' ethical guideline be applied to Martin et al.'s (2005) study on salamanders and pheromones?

    The 'reduce' ethical guideline could be applied to Martin et al.'s (2005) study by reducing the number of salamanders used, particularly as a repeated measures design is used.

  • True or False?

    The 'reduce' guideline can be applied to the studies by Weaver et al. (2004) and Fadda et al. (1996) as the number of rats used is not mentioned in the original articles, suggesting that fewer animals could have been used.

    True.

    The 'reduce' guideline can be applied to the studies by Weaver et al. (2004) and Fadda et al. (1996) as the number of rats used is not mentioned in the original articles, suggesting that fewer animals could have been used.

  • How could the 'refine' ethical guideline apply to Rosenzweig et al.'s (1972) study?

    The 'refine' ethical guideline could be applied to Rosenzweig et al.'s (1972) study by avoiding sacrificing rats for brain analysis by using non-invasive brain-imaging technologies like an MRI.

  • In what way could the 'refine' guideline be applied to Martin et al.'s (2005) study on territoriality in salamanders?

    The 'refine' guideline could be applied to Martin et al.'s (2005) study on territoriality in salamanders by testing them in their natural habitat, providing a more accurate assessment of territorial behaviour and minimising artificial environmental effects.

  • Applying the 'refine' ethical guideline, what could Fadda et al. (1996) use to measure acetylcholine in the rats’ brains instead of a specially implanted probe?

    Applying the 'refine' ethical guideline, Fadda et al. (1996) could use non-invasive methods like fMRI imaging to measure acetylcholine production, avoiding the need for invasive probes in rat brains.