Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Nothing More Than ‘Anti-Cull Activists’: Accusations Of Bias And The Politics Of Research That Advocates For Non-Human Animals, Jes Hooper, Thomas Aiello, Kristine Hill, Michelle Szydlowski, Sarah Oxley Heaney

Animal Studies Journal

This paper explores the ethical quandary faced by researchers whose work advocates for non-human animals and whose results conflict with prevalent anthropocentric societal narratives. To problematise the concept of research bias, we qualitatively analyse contemporary political debates surrounding the treatment of animals to ascertain if, how, when, and by whom research can be conducted with scientific integrity whilst advocating for more ethical treatment of other animals. By taking a holistic approach to the issues of bias presented within the remit of human-animal studies (research concerning human-animal relations), this paper firstly addresses the historic ways in which accusations of bias are …