In the growing field of Animal-Computer Interaction (ACI), ethical standards surrounding the treatment and participation of animal subjects are under increasing scrutiny. A systematic literature review by McGraw et al. (2023) examined 38 full papers presented at the ACM International Conference on ACI from 2016 to 2022. Their objective was to determine how researchers evaluate and report animal willingness to engage in research activities.
The results revealed a notable discrepancy: while 100% of non-dog-based studies (12 out of 12) reported on animal engagement protocols, only 62% of dog-based studies (16 out of 26) did the same. Even more striking, contingent consent—an approach that respects the animal’s ongoing choice to participate—was employed in 75% of non-dog studies but only 12% of dog-based studies.
Contingent consent involves monitoring animal behavior to assess their willingness and comfort, adjusting research methods accordingly, and even pausing or halting procedures if signs of stress or withdrawal are observed. This dynamic, behavior-based ethical practice aligns more closely with modern standards in animal welfare and scientific rigor.
Researchers argue that better adoption of contingent consent could not only improve ethical compliance but also enrich the scientific quality and reproducibility of ACI studies. Dog-focused research, in particular, may lag behind due to assumptions about domestication and training overshadowing individual behavioral cues.
By advocating for transparency in methodology and ethical practices, McGraw and colleagues urge ACI researchers to refine how animal agency is integrated into study design. This shift would represent a meaningful advancement in the humane treatment of animals in interactive technology research.
Source: Eli B. McGraw, C. Bosco, L. Brey, C. Nippert-Eng. “Dogs or Not Dogs? Examining ACI Authors’ Reporting on Animal Participants’ Willingness to Engage in Research: A Spotlight on Mediated and Contingent Consent.” Presented at the Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on Animal-Computer Interaction, 2023-12-04.
