One of the most important categories when doing research or studies is to protect participants from harm. Erika Friedman and Chia-Chun Tsai, both from the University of Maryland School of Nursing conducted a study on titled, “The Animal-Human Bond: Health and Wellness” The study set out to analyze the emotional impact animals have on the well being of human. The starting premise was that there was indeed a bond and the studied surveyed people, one group elderly, to see if the data in fact did correlate with this. This essay endeavors to establish if the participants were kept free from harm given the information as to how the study was conducted in Friedman and Tsai’s findings.
The method employed by the study was to study people who already owned pets and compare them to those who did not. Participants completed a questionnaire, but there was also a more scientific measure employed. Plasma levels of cholesterol and triglycerides and systolic BP were testing using a simple blood test. The elderly people tested were found to have lower serum triglyceride levels than non-pet owners, which supporting the assumptions going into the study.
Participants in this study agreed out of their own desire to contribute to the findings to participate in the study. Nothing more invasive than a routine blood test was taken. Under this, it is fair to conclude that study participants were not harmed and at least this part of the study was conduced in an ethical and safe manner.
References
Friedmann, E., & Tsai, C. (2011). The Human Animal Bond:Health and Wellness.University of Maryland School of Nursing,5, 95-110.
In class PowerPoint presentation on ethics. 2013
