What do we need to consider when using animals in experiments? Objectives: To understand and identify the ethical and practical issues of using animals in psychology experiment. Starter: Over the last year we have come across many animal experiments in Psychology. Complete the starter quiz to show what you can remember!

Issues we need to consider when using animals. Ethical issues: Causing pain and fear Social isolation Numbers of animals Choice of species Practical issues: Similarities between animals and humans Controls Deprivation Benefits for animals Differences between animals and humans

Task: Now you explain each point (top graders give examples) Ethical considerations when using animals Causing pain and fear Pain and fear should only be caused when it is essential to the experiment, and kept to a minimum For example Coombes only made one rat in each pair sick – this was essential to the experiment but he used no more than necessary Social isolation For example in Curio’s experiment it was important the birds could hear but not see each other Number of animals Choice of species

Task: Now you explain each point (top graders give examples) Practical considerations when using animals Similarity between humans and animals Humans are more similar to some species than others. Monkey’s are more like humans than blackbirds We can learn about behaviour from animals that are similar to us, e.g. Classical Conditioning using dogs Simpler The behaviour of animals if often simpler than humans This helps us understand more about behaviour… Controls Deprivation Animals can benefit Differences between humans & animals

Watch the following video clips showing animal experiments. Which ethical issues do you think have been considered, which not? What are the practical pro’s and cons?

Now read your letter from Mr Chance enquiring about an experiment he would like to carry out. You need to: 1) Write a reply explaining whether this experiment should go ahead, and JUSTIFY your decision using key terms. OR 2) Highlight parts of the letter that are of a concern to you. Annotate the letter showing which ethical or practical issue each point is referring to.

Finally: Imagine you have been asked to carry out an experiment to see whether longer darker nights increases tiredness. Would you use humans or animals? Why? If so what ethical and practical issued would you consider?