How humans hold their pets and beliefs about animal minds.

You are being invited to take part in a research study. Before you decide, it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Please take time to read the following information carefully and discuss it with others if you wish. Please ask me if there is anything that is not clear or if you would like more information. Take time to decide whether or not you wish to take part.

This study aims to investigate how humans hold their pet animals and how this may relate to beliefs about animal minds. Previous research has found that humans tend to have a side preference when holding their infant children and we would like to see if this preference is also true for people and their pets. In many homes’ pets are seen as part of the family and we therefore aim to gather photographs of individuals holding their pets to gain further knowledge into this area. 

You have been chosen for this study as you are right handed, English speaking and have a pet animal which you can either hug or cradle comfortably and safely for a photograph.

No. It is up to you to decide whether or not to take part. If you do decide to take part you will be asked to tick a consent form. You must also ensure that your pet is also comfortable with being hugged or cradled before deciding to take part. If you change your mind about participating in the study you are free to withdraw at any time up until data analysis begins (estimated February 2023) without giving any reason. 

If you decide to take part in this study you will be asked to take a picture with one pet (canine, feline or reptile) either hugging or cradling your pet. After you have submitted your picture you will be asked to fill out a short questionnaire about beliefs about animal minds (BAM). The entire study should take approximately 10 minutes to complete. In regards to the photographs you provide, a photo release form will be provided after uploading the photos. On this form you can decide whether you allow your photograph to potentially be used in my final dissertation and if so, can indicate the level of anonymity preferred (e.g. blurred face, blurred background). Participants can also select to not have their photographs included at all. 

The data controller for this project will be the researcher, and can be contacted at B00374878@studentmail.uws.ac.uk

Your personal data will be processed for the purposes outlined in this notice. The legal basis that would be used to process your personal data will be the provision of your consent.  

Your personal data will be processed so long as it is required for the research project. If I am able to anonymise or pseudonymise the personal data you provide, I will undertake this and will endeavour to minimise the processing of personal data wherever possible. Or I will anonymise or pseudonymise the personal data you provide. QuestionPro may collect the Internet protocol address (the IP address) that is publicly available on your computer, but this information will not be used by the research team in any capacity. 

If you are concerned about how your personal data is being processed, please contact me in the first instance at B00374878@studentmail.uws.ac.uk. If you remain unsatisfied, you may wish to contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Contact details, and details of data subject rights, are available on the ICO website at: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/data-protection-reform/overview-of-the-gdpr/individuals-rights/

The results of this study will be written up and used to produce a final year dissertation. They may also be presented at a conference and/or submitted for publication.

ESS Ethics Committee – Approval Number: 2022-19693-15777

Contact for further information

If you require any further information please contact:

Researcher:

Rhianne Anderson

University of the West of Scotland,

High Street,

Paisley,

PA1 2BE

UK

E-mail address: B00374878@ studentmail.uws.ac.uk

Supervisor:

Bianca Hatin

University of the West of Scotland,

High Street,

Paisley,

PA1 2BE

UK

E-mail address: bianca.hatin @ uws.ac.uk

Thank you for taking part in this study.