Evaluate the resources and describe the role they might play in helping you to develop knowledge and understanding throughout the course
To enhance learning, produce assignments and complete the Animal Studies course, I will need to use sources of information that are reliable, reputable and impartial. These can be found via web searches but reading around the topic and conducting some independent research will help to gain a better understanding of subject topics and contribute to a positive study experience too. Journals and books are also good sources of information but it is important to identify those that can be relied upon before using the information to conduct research from and produce assignments.
Example –Looking for information on feline and canine behaviour
Website sourced on Feline behaviour: https://icatcare.org/advice/cat-behaviour
International Cat Care (icatcare) is a charity founded in 1958 and aims to raise the standard of care provided to cats by ‘providing the best information possible’. The information supplied on their website is endorsed by the WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association) and ‘put together by experts in feline health, behaviour and welfare’. It is reassuring to know that the information supplied on the website is provided by individuals with expertise and is further endorsed by many well-known and reputable companies such as Royal Canin, Hills and Bayer. I would use a website like this to develop knowledge of feline behaviour because I can be sure that the information and resources available will be from reputable, reliable sources.
The amount of books available at my local library were very few but I did find ‘Cat Sense The Feline Enigma Revealed’ by John Bradshaw. Bradshaw is an animal behaviourist expert who has significant experience and produced scientific papers and research. The book is written using scientific research and gives an insight into cat behaviour. Bradshaw says ‘Classical and operant conditioning are not the only feasible explanations for why cats behave as they do, but they are often the simplest’ (Bradshaw, 2013). I would use a book like this to help with understanding of a topic because I know that the author is credible. Furthermore Bradshaw has listed the sources in the book on which he has based his research, which further backs up his material.
Website sourced on Canine behaviour: https://www.journalvetbehavior.com/
Journals are very useful sources of information and Journal Vet Behavior would be a useful website to use, as it offers access to a large amount of information and research specifically to do with canine behaviour. I could use this website for developing a deeper understanding of canine behaviour and use the search facility to refine the search to be more specific. ‘For instance, searching for ‘separation anxiety’ lead to details of several journals, including ‘Separation anxiety in dogs: What progress has been made in our understanding of the most common behavioral problems in dogs? (Ogata, 2016)’ where you can read in more depth about the topic. It also offers the option to search by author which would be helpful if you were looking for publications of their work.
I would prefer to use the Journal of Veterinary Behavior website over a website like this one – https://www.dogforum.com/dog-training-behavior/ . This is because ‘Dog Forum’ is dog training and behaviour forum that is free for any member of the public to join. It can be used to ask questions or answer them and offer advice. There is no way of ensuring the information will be accurate; because there is no governing body monitoring the website or credentials required to submit advice or upload information. Furthermore, the content is likely to be subjective as it is personal and from each individuals opinion.
Example – Websearch for ‘Feline and canine health, diseases and nutrition’
Websites sourced: www.Journalseek.net / https://www.cabi.org/animalscience/search/?q=feline+health
I have found that JournalSeek is a great website for starting out searches on particular topics. From this website I found details of www.cabi.org which is a website with access to many full text journals and information relating to animal health, production and welfare, including feline. It also has a ‘bookshop’ area where you can search for and purchase books relating to animal subjects. These websites would be very useful to use throughout the course as they will facilitate access to lots of relevant information, reliable journals and resources.
http://cathealthproblems.blogspot.com/- This is a website that was found using a web-search for ‘feline and canine health, diseases and nutrition’. Having looked at the website, it appears that the articles are written and posted by the website owner in a blog format. Cat Bert (website host and blogger) encourages users to upload their own comments and information ‘But if it doesn’t seem often enough, feel free to add your comments’ and appears to have experience rather than relevant qualifications in the animal health sector as stated in the ‘about me’ section on the website -‘After a 25 year career as a “people doctor,” I established a rescue shelter for cats, primarily, along with a few dogs.
This experience has led to expertise in handling the problems that arise with pets.’ The information can easily be altered by other website users meaning that it may not be accurate or from a reliable source. Considering all of these elements, I would not use a website like this to base study research on.
Example – Looking for information on horse behaviour and what kind of training they need.
Website sourced: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/horses/behaviour/-/articleName/CAD_HorsesAndPoniesBehaviour
The RSPCA is an Animal Welfare registered charity founded in 1824 and as well as pushing for law changes and rehoming animals, it also focuses on educating the public on animal welfare standards. On their website they offer a large section of information and resources about advice and animal welfare. This information is comprehensive, covering topics from health and diet through to behaviour. As the RSPCA are long established charity with a history of promoting and educating animal welfare, I can be sure that their information is reliable and impartial and I would use their website to help develop coursework.
I would prefer to use the RSPCA website over a website such as – http://www.horsebehaviourandtraining.co.uk/training-2. This is because this website offers horse behavioural training services. The information found here may not be impartial, for example Sue Gardner can be seen using language to persuade a reader to see the benefits of their training techniques – ‘I advise people to use food as a reward and motivator, it is certainly an integral part of training’.
Reflection
Reflect on your preconceptions of animal studies and briefly discuss your views now having conducted some independent research
Before I started this animal studies course, I was not aware of the full extent of how diverse this study subject actually is. There a wealth of information available regarding these subjects, online and in books. However, due to the amount of resources and information available now, there are many accurate and reputable sources but there are many that are unreliable too. It seems to be harder to find the information that you need because there is so much available. This has reminded me to be cautious and consult various sources before using them for research purposes. I can use my ICT skills to narrow searches and manage lots of information. I have been reminded not to jump into a task but to prepare in advance with the use of planners, mind maps etc. and use reflective writing as a form of documenting progress and self-assessment. A SWOT analysis has identified weaknesses, threats, opportunities and strengths and how these can be used to maintain motivation, communicate with my tutor and aid successful completion of the course. Overall, I feel that I am more informed of the advantages of disadvantages surrounding ICT and technological tools.
Bibliography
Cottrell, S. (2008). Palgrave Study Skills. 3rd ed. New York: Palgrave Macmillan
https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/guides/z2c82hv/revision/1
UkEssays. November 2013 Personal SWOT Analysis – Oneself / Myself [online] www.ukessays.com/essays/business-strategy/personal-swot-analysis.php?
https://www.studymode.com/essays/Using-Ict-For-Distance-Learning-1732138.html
https://icatcare.org/advice/cat-behaviour
https://www.journalvetbehavior.com/
https://www.dogforum.com/dog-training-behavior/
www.Journalseek.net
https://www.cabi.org/animalscience/search/?q=feline+health
https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/horses/behaviour/-/articleName/CAD_HorsesAndPoniesBehaviour
http://www.horsebehaviourandtraining.co.uk/training-2
About us, https://icatcare.org/about-us [online], accessed 20/10/2018
Cottrell, S. (2008). Palgrave Study Skills. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, p.148.
Bradshaw, J. (2013). The feline enigma revealed. London: Allen Lane, p.145.
Ogata, N. (2016). Separation anxiety in dogs: What progress has been made in our understanding of the most common behavioral problems in dogs?. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 16, pp.28-35.
Gardner,S, Clicker training/food reward, [online], http://www.horsebehaviourandtraining.co.uk/training-2 [accessed 20/10/2018].
Bert, C, Covering Cat Health in 2008, http://cathealthproblems.blogspot.com/2008/01/covering-cat-health-in-2008.html [online] accessed 20/10/2018
Bert,C, About me, http://cathealthproblems.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2007-08-25T00:04:00-06:00&max-results=10&start=20&by-date=false , [online] accessed 20/10/2018.
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