Human-animal relationships develop at many different levels across animal production, animal and veterinary care, animal welfare, animal trade or just through animal or pet ownership. In each case, these relationships are shaped by cultural values, societal structures and social dynamics.
Increasingly, researchers appreciate the importance of considering the differences that diverse social and cultural settings present for animal health. This has led to a growing interest in undertaking research that seeks to explore and explain human-animal relationships in the context of different settings. To strengthen this endeavor, it is important to recognize that there is much to be gained by drawing on the methodological traditions of the social sciences. The generation of new knowledge in the fields of sociology, psychology, anthropology and education are underpinned by established research paradigms, methodological approaches and theoretical or conceptual frameworks that may be wholly unfamiliar to many veterinary researchers. Consequently, opportunities to lean in to the richness of these alternative approaches abound. Veterinary anthropological studies are now using ethnographic approaches to explore the interrelationships between humans and animals, while considering cultural norms and social structures as well as micro and macro politics. Epidemiologists are using Social Cognitive Theory and the Health Belief Model, for example, to shed light on their findings. Veterinary educational researchers are designing their studies in line with established sociological and psychological approaches such as constructivist grounded theory and phenomenology. Beyond sharing the findings from these kinds of studies, there is much to be gained by showcasing how such findings were generated, for the benefit of the broader veterinary research community.
In this Research Topic we encourage the submission of manuscripts that draw upon the research traditions and conceptual/theoretical frameworks of the social sciences to describe or explain when, why, and how certain human behaviors and practices become significant in specific animal health contexts. We invite contributions that identify factors shaping human-animal relationships and changes to human behavior and practices related to interactions with animals. We invite papers that embrace and explore why socio-cultural and political contexts matter in human-animal relationships. We equally encourage critical exploration of dominant scientific frameworks that inform qualitative, mixed methods or quantitative data analysis to assess practices that impact animal lives.
We invite the submission of original research studies, case studies and reviews that embrace frameworks and traditions of the social sciences including as part of multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary methodological approaches in veterinary research. We are looking for research that explores the patterns and changes in practices and behavior of animal owners or farmers using empirically validated constructs, theoretical frameworks as well as ethnographic approaches. We encourage research from a wide range of geographical, socio-cultural, and political perspectives. Themes could include, but are not limited to the impact of human behavior on the spread of infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance, human behavior and practices related to animal welfare, food safety, food security and dietary diversity derived from animal source foods, ands human-animal bonds.
Human-animal relationships develop at many different levels across animal production, animal and veterinary care, animal welfare, animal trade or just through animal or pet ownership. In each case, these relationships are shaped by cultural values, societal structures and social dynamics.
Increasingly, researchers appreciate the importance of considering the differences that diverse social and cultural settings present for animal health. This has led to a growing interest in undertaking research that seeks to explore and explain human-animal relationships in the context of different settings. To strengthen this endeavor, it is important to recognize that there is much to be gained by drawing on the methodological traditions of the social sciences. The generation of new knowledge in the fields of sociology, psychology, anthropology and education are underpinned by established research paradigms, methodological approaches and theoretical or conceptual frameworks that may be wholly unfamiliar to many veterinary researchers. Consequently, opportunities to lean in to the richness of these alternative approaches abound. Veterinary anthropological studies are now using ethnographic approaches to explore the interrelationships between humans and animals, while considering cultural norms and social structures as well as micro and macro politics. Epidemiologists are using Social Cognitive Theory and the Health Belief Model, for example, to shed light on their findings. Veterinary educational researchers are designing their studies in line with established sociological and psychological approaches such as constructivist grounded theory and phenomenology. Beyond sharing the findings from these kinds of studies, there is much to be gained by showcasing how such findings were generated, for the benefit of the broader veterinary research community.
In this Research Topic we encourage the submission of manuscripts that draw upon the research traditions and conceptual/theoretical frameworks of the social sciences to describe or explain when, why, and how certain human behaviors and practices become significant in specific animal health contexts. We invite contributions that identify factors shaping human-animal relationships and changes to human behavior and practices related to interactions with animals. We invite papers that embrace and explore why socio-cultural and political contexts matter in human-animal relationships. We equally encourage critical exploration of dominant scientific frameworks that inform qualitative, mixed methods or quantitative data analysis to assess practices that impact animal lives.
We invite the submission of original research studies, case studies and reviews that embrace frameworks and traditions of the social sciences including as part of multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary methodological approaches in veterinary research. We are looking for research that explores the patterns and changes in practices and behavior of animal owners or farmers using empirically validated constructs, theoretical frameworks as well as ethnographic approaches. We encourage research from a wide range of geographical, socio-cultural, and political perspectives. Themes could include, but are not limited to the impact of human behavior on the spread of infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance, human behavior and practices related to animal welfare, food safety, food security and dietary diversity derived from animal source foods, ands human-animal bonds.