An Ethics Toolkit to Support Animal-Centered Research and Design

Area of Science:

• Animal-Computer Interaction (ACI)
• Research Ethics
• Human-Animal Interaction

Background:

• Ethical considerations are crucial in animal-centered research and the design of interactive systems for animals.
• Existing ethical frameworks in Animal-Computer Interaction (ACI) may not sufficiently address unexpected ethical challenges.
• Normative ethical approaches alone can be insufficient for guiding researchers in dynamic research settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel ethics toolkit designed to support ethical decision-making in animal-centered research.
• To enable researchers to make ethically sound situated decisions throughout their projects.
• To foster a practice of active ethical reflection within research teams.

Main Methods:

• Development of a situated ethics toolkit comprising three templates with guiding questions.
• Application of the toolkit during a research project focused on designing dog-friendly controls for Mobility Assistance Dogs (MADs).
• Evaluation of the toolkit's effectiveness in articulating project ethos and guiding team interactions.

Main Results:

• The toolkit facilitated clear and systematic articulation of the research project's ethos.
• It enhanced the research team's understanding of their ethical stance towards dogs, trainers, and human partners.
• The toolkit fostered active team reflection, aiding commitment to ethical principles amidst challenges.

Conclusions:

• The proposed ethics toolkit effectively supports ethical engagement in animal-centered research.
• It is valuable for preparing designers and researchers for ethically charged situations.
• The toolkit has broader applicability for ethical practice in various animal-related research and professional settings.