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Animals are sometimes used to conduct psychological research - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 6 - 2018 - Paper 3
Question 6
Animals are sometimes used to conduct psychological research. Assess the practical and ethical implications of using animals in psychological research.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Animals are sometimes used to conduct psychological research - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 6 - 2018 - Paper 3
Step 1
Assess the practical implications of using animals in psychological research.
Answer
Using animals in psychological research can have several practical implications:
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Regulation: Research on animals is regulated by laws such as the Scientific Procedures Act (1986) and the Home Office guidelines. This ensures that animals are treated humanely and that their use is justified.
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Reduction in Numbers: Researchers are encouraged to minimize the number of animals used in experiments, which can lead to more efficient studies and reduced costs.
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Controlled Conditions: Animal studies can be conducted in highly controlled environments. Factors such as temperature and lighting can be regulated to enhance the validity of the results.
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Translatability of Results: Studies often use animals that are similar to humans (e.g., monkeys). Research findings can often be translated to human situations, although there may be limitations.
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Historical Examples: Studies like Pavlov’s (1927) on dogs demonstrated that animals can be conditioned to respond to stimuli, leading to significant findings in behavioral psychology. Similarly, Beeman's (1947) work on rodents showed how hormonal changes affect behavior, providing insights that may not be viable with human subjects.
Step 2
Assess the ethical implications of using animals in psychological research.
Answer
The ethical implications of using animals in psychological research are profound and warrant careful consideration:
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Moral Considerations: There is considerable debate around the moral implications of using animals for research. Ryder (1970) criticized this practice by introducing the concept of 'speciesism,' which argues that treating animals differently from humans lacks justification.
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Animal Welfare: Ethical research must ensure that animal subjects are protected. Procedures that cause pain, distress, or lead to premature death are increasingly scrutinized. The guidelines put forward by the Scientific Procedures Act (1986) aim to prevent such occurrences.
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Invasive Procedures: Certain studies, such as Pavlov's experiment on dogs, involved invasive surgical procedures. The ethics of causing harm to an animal for the sake of scientific discovery is contentious, raising questions about acceptable limits.
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Comparison to Human Research: Ethical concerns deepen when considering that the benefits of research for humans should not come at an unjustifiable cost to animals. Scientists must weigh the potential knowledge gained against the suffering inflicted.
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Historical Violations: Past practices, like those in Harlow’s (1958) studies with monkeys, showed severe ethical violations as the animals experienced extreme distress. Research today must strive to avoid such occurrences and adhere to ethical standards that promote humane treatment.