Jeffrey Gaynes
Animal Rights or Science?
As we’ve seen in our introduction to psychology and really in any medical/biological/behavioral a lot of the topics we talked about have come from vigorous research; and most likely this research was derived from animal testing/study. Over the years the American Psychological Association (APA) has established guidelines – in a sense to provide regulations of animal testing. These guidelines established by the APA comes down to really three main topics; justification, care, and research controls (management). The APA has established characteristics of what’s deemed as justifiable research for animal testing. Characteristics of justifiable research include. All research must be done with a clear scientific purpose; the research done will result in a increased knowledge of the processes behind: evolution, development, control, alternation, maintenance, and/or biological significance of behavior. In addition to this justifiable research must increase understanding of the species studied and provide results that will benefit the health of humans and other people. In addition to justification another topic addressed in the guidelines relate to the care and welfare of the animal. Because the psychological wellbeing of an animal we questionable the APA has worked collaboratively with the USDA to mandate certain guidelines. These include: the facilities housing the animal during its study period must be in acceptable conditions, as described by the USDA. All procedures on the animal must be reviewed and approved by an animal care committee to ensure the procedure is humane and appropriate. The last Topic addressed in APA’s guide to animal testing pertains to the personnel dealing with the animal(s). The APA mandates that all the procedures done comply with the regulations presided by the APA, and the study of behavior is the central focus of the research. If a proposal complies with all the guidelines addressed then it is OK in a sense to do.
