Opening up animal research and science-society relations?: a thematic analysis of transparency discourses in the United Kingdom

The use of animals in scientific research represents an interesting case to consider in the context of the contemporary preoccupation with transparency and openness in science and governance. In the United Kingdom, organisations critical of animal research have long called for more openness. More re...

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Main Authors: McLeod, Carmen, Hobson-West, Pru
Format: Article
Published: Sage 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/38645/
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author McLeod, Carmen
Hobson-West, Pru
author_facet McLeod, Carmen
Hobson-West, Pru
author_sort McLeod, Carmen
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description The use of animals in scientific research represents an interesting case to consider in the context of the contemporary preoccupation with transparency and openness in science and governance. In the United Kingdom, organisations critical of animal research have long called for more openness. More recently, organisations involved in animal research also seem to be embracing transparency discourses. This article provides a detailed analysis of publically available documents from animal protection groups, the animal research community and government/research funders. Our aim is to explore the similarities and differences in the way transparency is constructed and to identify what more openness is expected to achieve. In contrast to the existing literature, we conclude that the slipperiness of transparency discourses may ultimately have transformative implications for the relationship between science and society and that contemporary openness initiatives might be sowing the seeds for change to the status quo.
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spelling nottingham-386452020-05-04T18:14:39Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/38645/ Opening up animal research and science-society relations?: a thematic analysis of transparency discourses in the United Kingdom McLeod, Carmen Hobson-West, Pru The use of animals in scientific research represents an interesting case to consider in the context of the contemporary preoccupation with transparency and openness in science and governance. In the United Kingdom, organisations critical of animal research have long called for more openness. More recently, organisations involved in animal research also seem to be embracing transparency discourses. This article provides a detailed analysis of publically available documents from animal protection groups, the animal research community and government/research funders. Our aim is to explore the similarities and differences in the way transparency is constructed and to identify what more openness is expected to achieve. In contrast to the existing literature, we conclude that the slipperiness of transparency discourses may ultimately have transformative implications for the relationship between science and society and that contemporary openness initiatives might be sowing the seeds for change to the status quo. Sage 2016-10-31 Article PeerReviewed McLeod, Carmen and Hobson-West, Pru (2016) Opening up animal research and science-society relations?: a thematic analysis of transparency discourses in the United Kingdom. Public Understanding of Science, 25 (7). pp. 791-806. ISSN 1361-6609 animals and science openness public trust in science transparency discourses http://pus.sagepub.com/content/25/7/791 doi:10.1177/0963662515586320 doi:10.1177/0963662515586320
spellingShingle animals and science
openness
public trust in science
transparency discourses
McLeod, Carmen
Hobson-West, Pru
Opening up animal research and science-society relations?: a thematic analysis of transparency discourses in the United Kingdom
title Opening up animal research and science-society relations?: a thematic analysis of transparency discourses in the United Kingdom
title_full Opening up animal research and science-society relations?: a thematic analysis of transparency discourses in the United Kingdom
title_fullStr Opening up animal research and science-society relations?: a thematic analysis of transparency discourses in the United Kingdom
title_full_unstemmed Opening up animal research and science-society relations?: a thematic analysis of transparency discourses in the United Kingdom
title_short Opening up animal research and science-society relations?: a thematic analysis of transparency discourses in the United Kingdom
title_sort opening up animal research and science-society relations?: a thematic analysis of transparency discourses in the united kingdom
topic animals and science
openness
public trust in science
transparency discourses
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/38645/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/38645/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/38645/