This paper examines discourses around “volunteering” in animal research. Through a
qualitative textual analysis of the scientific literature using animals in behavioral and
psychological research, we demonstrate that “voluntary” and related terms are used by
scientists in a variety of distinct ways, which carry a range of ethical ...
This paper examines discourses around “volunteering” in animal research. Through a
qualitative textual analysis of the scientific literature using animals in behavioral and
psychological research, we demonstrate that “voluntary” and related terms are used by
scientists in a variety of distinct ways, which carry a range of ethical and political
connotations. While any reference to volunteering might be assumed to imply free,
unconstrained, and unpaid participation in an activity, in the animal research literature the
term is often used simply to signal a lack of physical restraint, even though other human
imposed constraints are at play. In conclusion, while truly voluntary behavior may be
impossible, we nevertheless argue that there is a case for seeing use of the language of
volunteering as an ethical or political move in which scientists aim to highlight a goal of
minimizing human control, promoting animal welfare, or representing their research as
ethically acceptable.
