research methods animal research brain p255 ethical issues practical issues
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Research Methods Animal research Brain p255 Ethical Issues Practical Issues. http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpBPavEDQCk. BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007 link. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Research Methods Animal researchAnimal research
Brain p255Ethical Issues
Practical Issues http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=YpBPavEDQCk
BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007 link
• According to the American Psychological Association about 8% of psychological research involves the use of animals; this is most likely to be in the USA.
• A number of species are used.• Around 90% of which are rodents and birds,
mainly rats, mice and pigeons. • Only around 5% of the animals are primates;
cats and dogs are studied rarely.
Animals used Area studied
Mice Genes associated with abnormalities in humans – to gain understanding of such issues
Rats Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease – and gene therapy to see if it could work
Rats Antipsychotic drugs – to see how they change the brain itself (both it’s structure and the nervous system)
Mice Stress – to find changes in neurotransmitters to gain understanding
Monkeys Stress – to see what effect having control over the situation has
Rodents Exercise – to see if it helps prevent the processes of ageing
Rats Memory – to see what parts of the brain perform which function
Rats Sleep deprivation – to see its effects
Do the ends ever justify the means?Do the ends ever justify the means?
Each person will have their own views on this.Is the animal suffering caused by certain types of research outweighed by the benefits to humanity?Bateson (1986) Bateson (1986) expressed this as a 3D graph
Bateson cube
Draw this on p18 of your Draw this on p18 of your Biological PackBiological Pack
• The cube has 3 axes measuring suffering, certainty of benefit and quality of research.
• If the research is high quality, certain to be beneficial and not going to inflict suffering then it will fall into the hollow section (top front) meaning research should proceed.
• Painful, low quality research with lower likelihood of success will be bottom back in the solid and should not proceed.
• Most research will not be clear cut but the rule is solid should not continue, hollow should.
• The problem of course is how to determine benefit in advance. Also who will decide on quality of research and the level of suffering? Both of which are subjective measures.subjective measures.
Many scientists believe that using animals for research purposes is
completely justifiable
YES YES NONO
NOT EVERYONE AGREES WITH THIS HOWEVER
The 3 Rs1.1. Replacement Replacement of animals by other methods such as
computer models and simulations.
2. ReductionReduction in the number of animals used. More advanced statistical methods can be used allowing significant results based on lower numbers. Sharing of information between institutions allows the number of replications to be reduced.
3. RefinementRefinement of experimental methods to inflict less pain and suffering.
BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007
States: Psychologists must adhere to the legal requirements of the
country they are working in.Psychologists have to be aware of endangered species or
threatened species and act appropriately.Research must be prefaced with a covering letter stating this.
• Replacing use of animalsVideos and computer simulations have to be
used where possible.Ideal for teaching situations.e.g. Ratlife and Sniffy the Rat
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h8L96WHXn4
BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007
• Choice of species and strainSpecies should be carefully chosen to
ensure effectiveness with minimal suffering-knowledge of species and history of individual animals vital
Choices have to be justified on project licence application
Different strains of rodents are physiologically different and need to be chosen carefully.
Transgenic mice may be used as no harm to organism is observed.
BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007
• Number of animals1986 Act-legally required to use
smallest number of animals possible
National Centre for 3Rs (Replacement, Refinement and Reduction) can provide advice on how the use of better methodologies/designs and statistical analysis can help achieve this.
BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007
• ProceduresProject licenceRegistered establishmentPersonal licenceLocal ethical review process (Committee)Home OfficeIdentify costs to animals in reports/journals
BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007
• Procedures (contd)Housing- caging needs to take into account the social behaviour
of speciesReward, deprivation, aversive stimulation- periods of
deprivation of food should be short and species specificAggression and predation- natural encounters preferable if
staged animals should be protectedFieldwork- should not disturb the ecosystem or interrupt
species reproduction and survivalAnaesthesia, analgesia and euthanasia- animals should
have access to pain relief and be destroyed humanely if suffering
BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007
• ProcurementHome Office Designated Breeding and Supply
Establishments.
Wild caught animals- refer to ASAB website
BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007
• Animal CareHousing and husbandry conditions
must be within guidelinesCaptive animals should be kept in
conditions closely resembling their natural conditions as much as possible
Need to foster habituation to minimise stress
Animal care personnel must be trained
BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007
• Disposing of animalsDistribute to other colleagues if
deemed possible by home office
If disposed of- it must be done humanely
Death must be confirmed before disposal
Vets must be consulted
BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007
• Animals in psychology teachingTeachers have a responsibility to
educate pupils on ethical issuesCoursework on animals may be possible
but tests to show known facts are prohibited
Use of film/video should be encouragedUndergraduates must work within a
project licencePost graduates need personal licence
Sometimes it is hard to justify!
Harry Harlow
Rhesus monkeys
Removed from mothers at birth and given surrogates, usually made from wire or terry cloth. Distress caused during procedure. Unable to develop normal social relationships with other members of species. Picked on by other monkeys who see them as very submissive and timid. Questioned the psychodynamic and behaviourist theories of attachment since it suggests food was not crucial. Evidence for the long term effects of privation.
Tasks for lesson 1 1: Make sure you have read and evaluated the Caster Caster
Study Study in your pack (p17) This is an example of one type of research that uses animals.2: Sort the statement slips into practicalpractical and ethical ethical
arguments for and against using animals in research. Write down some of the key argumentsWrite down some of the key arguments4: Complete the activityactivity on p20p20 of your pack5: Complete the gap fill gap fill on p19 p19 of your pack6: Answer the exam question exam question on p21p21 of your pack