Centring individual animals to improve research and citation practices

Area of Science:

• Animal Behaviour
• Ethology
• Welfare Science

Background:

• Foundational animal behaviour research often neglected the influence of individual animal variation and welfare on experimental outcomes.
• This oversight in seminal works and subsequent replications raises concerns about the validity of historical and current behavioural data.
• Acknowledging individuality and welfare is crucial for advancing the scientific understanding of animal responses.

Approach:

• Critically re-examine seminal animal behaviour studies, assessing potential impacts of unacknowledged welfare and individual differences.
• Propose novel citation practices that transparently address the influence of welfare and individuality in past and future research.
• Introduce a transparent reporting framework for future behavioural research, enhancing replicability and accounting for participant individuality and welfare.

Key Points:

• Individual animal responses vary, and welfare significantly impacts behaviour, yet historical research often lacked this consideration.
• Current citation practices may perpetuate the oversight of welfare and individuality in animal behaviour science.
• A new framework for reporting research is needed to ensure scientific rigor and validity.

Conclusions:

• Re-evaluating past research through the lens of welfare and individuality is essential for accurate interpretation.
• Transparent reporting standards are necessary to improve the reliability and replicability of animal behaviour studies.
• Integrating considerations of animal individuality and welfare will advance the field of behavioural science.