Research for Academic Learning

How to Be a Better Animal Advocate

Carol L. Glasser — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:30:00 -0800

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Bystander Apathy in Animal Abuse Cases: Exploring Barriers to Child and Adolescent Intervention

Carol L. Glasser — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:45:00 -0800

Relying on in depth interviews with adolescents who had witnessed violence against animals but not intervened when it was occurring, this study seeks to understand impediments to advocating and intervening for the animal. The authors find that these adolescents act much like bystanders to violence against humans--being troubled by what that they see but not intervening. However, they differ in that violence against animals is normalized in their peer group as "play" activity. Implications for humane education needs are discussed.

Coming Soon: Year Five of HRC's Animal Tracker

HRC Admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:45:00 -0800

We’re getting ready to launch year five of HRC’s Animal Tracker annual survey of the public opinions and behavior of adults in the U.S. This year’s survey, which will field in March, addresses opinions toward various social movements, who people trust to provide information about animal welfare, opinions about the adequacy of animal protection laws, attitudes toward the importance of animal welfare in various situations, and the frequency with which people discuss animal protection issues. We asked the exact same questions in 2008 and 2009 and will be able to analyze changes over time. When the results are available in April, we’ll also refresh the Animal Tracker graphing tool so that the results will be easy to access and interpret.

Christmas Bird Count--Historical Data

Carol L. Glasser — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:45:00 -0800

The Christmas Bird Count is thought to be the longest running citizen survey, currently in its 112th year. Each year, between December 14th and January 5th, bird watchers in the US and Canada count birds in their area, recording numbers and species. The Audubon Society takes this data and manages it. This website allows for users to access that data, organizing it by region or species.

The Development and Factor Structure of a Questionnaire Measure of the Strength of Attachment to Pet Dogs

Carol L. Glasser — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 08:45:00 -0800

This study describes the development of survey measures to evaluate people's attachment to their dogs. The authors test the scales and find that they are a reliable measure of degree of closeness to a companion animal, caring for and protecting a companion, and as a base measure of emotional comfort and well-being generally.

Looking for an Ideal Horse: Rider Preferences

Carol L. Glasser — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:45:00 -0800

This study examines the qualities that people who ride horses look for in a horse. Researchers found the most important qualities were ease of handling and maintenance. Ability to jump was also important to more advanced riders.

Labels and the Treatment of Animals: Archival and Experimental Cases

Carol L. Glasser — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:45:00 -0800

This study examines how attitudes toward the maltreatment of animals vary depending on the type of animal. The study is conducted using archival data of writings about animals in popular scientific venues, as well as an experiment in which respondents were asked to react to vignettes describing the maltreatment of different species of animals. The study finds that the species and label of an animal determines how people react to its mistreatment -- less tolerance for maltreatment was accorded for pet animals and certain types of maltreatment were acceptable only for certain species (e.g. "hooking" was okay for fish but not birds, cats, or dogs).

Vegan Sexuality: Challenging Heteronormative Masculinity through Meat-free Sex

Carol L. Glasser — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 08:45:00 -0800

This study examines how the sexuality of vegans is addressed and reacted to by a general audience. The authors examine online responses to the idea of "vegansexuals," vegans who wish to only date other vegans. The authors analyze the themes present in these responses and find that negative evaluations were attributed to vegans' sexuality.

Associations Between Variables of Routine Herd Data and Dairy Cattle Welfare Indicators

Carol L. Glasser — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 08:45:00 -0800

With an interest in identifying empirical measures for the welfare of farm animals that will not require in-person assessments, the authors of this study examine which routinely collected herd data variables are correlated with measures of animal welfare.

Speciesism, Altruism and the Economics of Animal Welfare

Carol L. Glasser — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:45:00 -0800

In this study, economists have tried to incorporate altruism and non utilitarian concerns into a cost-benefit analysis of farm animal welfare policies. They found that most people are unwilling to spend money for the improved welfare of animals. One-third of subjects were unwilling to pay any money to improve animal welfare, and of those who would pay, few would pay more than $3 to improve the lives of 1,000 animals. However, a small minority was willing to pay large sums of money, making $57 the average amount that US adults will pay to improve the lives of 1,000 farm animals.