The use of non-human primates in biomedical research: addressing the replacement impasse through the social dynamics of science
Non-human primate experimentation provokes passionate and opposing exchanges, particularly in the UK. This disagreement contributes to an impasse which in turn has prevented the exploration of the important question, if and how primate research could be ended. This project aims to support the examin...
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| Format: | Thesis (University of Nottingham only) |
| Language: | English |
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2015
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/30638/ |
| _version_ | 1848794028894584832 |
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| author | Hudson-Shore, Michelle |
| author_facet | Hudson-Shore, Michelle |
| author_sort | Hudson-Shore, Michelle |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Non-human primate experimentation provokes passionate and opposing exchanges, particularly in the UK. This disagreement contributes to an impasse which in turn has prevented the exploration of the important question, if and how primate research could be ended. This project aims to support the examination of this question of impasse presenting data on how it might be overcome by providing a novel and challenging perspective using a multi-method approach, and insights from science and technology studies, to better understand the animal research controversy.
The project primarily draws on data from face-to-face semi-structured interviews with primate users and with scientists who do not use primates across two areas of research, namely schistosomiasis and Parkinson’s disease. This multiple-case study method was combined with a documentary analysis of primate reports produced by key stakeholders. The dataset was then analysed using a semi-inductive, thematic approach to identify how aspects of the social dynamics of science can help to explain the different viewpoints provided by participants. The analysis showed that issues of (i) competition and reputation, (ii) expectations, core sets and publications, (iii) entrenchment and policy, and (iv) ethics and speciesism are centrally relevant to a better understanding of the apparent stalemate in replacing primate experiments.
The key finding is therefore that the social dynamics of science play a critical role in explaining why the primate impasse persists, and can also help to understand how to overcome it. Constructive recommendations to achieve progress are made, focussing on improved collaboration and communication, increasing flexibility and explicit examination of the ethical considerations. The thesis also draws conclusions on how best to ensure the necessary involvement of key stakeholders. Recommendations from this project also have wider implications for scientific practice particularly for those involved in alternatives to animal research, and for the field of science communication. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:09:41Z |
| format | Thesis (University of Nottingham only) |
| id | nottingham-30638 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:09:41Z |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-306382025-02-28T11:37:10Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/30638/ The use of non-human primates in biomedical research: addressing the replacement impasse through the social dynamics of science Hudson-Shore, Michelle Non-human primate experimentation provokes passionate and opposing exchanges, particularly in the UK. This disagreement contributes to an impasse which in turn has prevented the exploration of the important question, if and how primate research could be ended. This project aims to support the examination of this question of impasse presenting data on how it might be overcome by providing a novel and challenging perspective using a multi-method approach, and insights from science and technology studies, to better understand the animal research controversy. The project primarily draws on data from face-to-face semi-structured interviews with primate users and with scientists who do not use primates across two areas of research, namely schistosomiasis and Parkinson’s disease. This multiple-case study method was combined with a documentary analysis of primate reports produced by key stakeholders. The dataset was then analysed using a semi-inductive, thematic approach to identify how aspects of the social dynamics of science can help to explain the different viewpoints provided by participants. The analysis showed that issues of (i) competition and reputation, (ii) expectations, core sets and publications, (iii) entrenchment and policy, and (iv) ethics and speciesism are centrally relevant to a better understanding of the apparent stalemate in replacing primate experiments. The key finding is therefore that the social dynamics of science play a critical role in explaining why the primate impasse persists, and can also help to understand how to overcome it. Constructive recommendations to achieve progress are made, focussing on improved collaboration and communication, increasing flexibility and explicit examination of the ethical considerations. The thesis also draws conclusions on how best to ensure the necessary involvement of key stakeholders. Recommendations from this project also have wider implications for scientific practice particularly for those involved in alternatives to animal research, and for the field of science communication. 2015-12-09 Thesis (University of Nottingham only) NonPeerReviewed application/pdf en arr https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/30638/1/Michelle_HudsonShore_FinalPhDThesis.pdf Hudson-Shore, Michelle (2015) The use of non-human primates in biomedical research: addressing the replacement impasse through the social dynamics of science. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham. Primate Qualitative methods Case study Recommendations Social dynamics of science Scientific controversy |
| spellingShingle | Primate Qualitative methods Case study Recommendations Social dynamics of science Scientific controversy Hudson-Shore, Michelle The use of non-human primates in biomedical research: addressing the replacement impasse through the social dynamics of science |
| title | The use of non-human primates in biomedical research: addressing the replacement impasse through the social dynamics of science |
| title_full | The use of non-human primates in biomedical research: addressing the replacement impasse through the social dynamics of science |
| title_fullStr | The use of non-human primates in biomedical research: addressing the replacement impasse through the social dynamics of science |
| title_full_unstemmed | The use of non-human primates in biomedical research: addressing the replacement impasse through the social dynamics of science |
| title_short | The use of non-human primates in biomedical research: addressing the replacement impasse through the social dynamics of science |
| title_sort | use of non-human primates in biomedical research: addressing the replacement impasse through the social dynamics of science |
| topic | Primate Qualitative methods Case study Recommendations Social dynamics of science Scientific controversy |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/30638/ |