# Animal research / animal models

> IB Psychology · IB Psychology 2027 First Assessment
> Source: https://www.owlsprep.com/study/ib-psychology-bio-animal-research-animal-models/

The use of animal research in the study of human behaviour and the ethical considerations in the use of animals in research.

## Learning objectives

- The use of animal research in the study of human behaviour and the ethical considerations in the use of animals in research.

## How often is this tested?

Based on OwlsPrep's analysis of official CIE IB_PSYCH P1 past papers (2019–2025): **Animal research / animal models** appears **10 times** in the last 7 years — **4.4%** of all P1 questions (10 of 228).

Most-tested forms: Essay: Discuss (22 marks) (5), Essay: Evaluate (22 marks) (3), Essay (22 marks) (2).

## Core concept

Animals are used to study human behaviour because we share physiology (neurons, hormones, basic learning) with other species, and because animals allow tight control, invasive methods and short generations that would be impossible or unethical in humans. The value of any animal study depends on how far the model generalises to people. Its use is bounded by ethical considerations — the 3 Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement), a cost–benefit judgement, and animal-welfare rules.

> **info**
>
> **Level note:** In the 2019 syllabus 'the role of animal research' was HL-only; the 2027 KP coverage does not mark BIO_1 as HL, so it is built as core — flagged for KP line.

## Key studies

IB Psychology answers must be supported by named studies. Learn these to cite as evidence:

**Harlow (1958)** — Infant rhesus monkeys preferred a soft cloth 'mother' over a wire one that fed them, and used it as a secure base for exploration. — *An animal model of attachment giving evidence (contact comfort > food) that could not ethically be obtained from human infants.*

**Weaver et al. (2004)** — Rat pups with low-nurturing mothers showed increased methylation of the glucocorticoid-receptor gene and greater stress vulnerability as adults. — *An animal model exposes a mechanism (later echoed in human data, McGowan et al. 2009) using brain tissue you cannot take from humans.*

## Evaluation (AO3)

**Strength — access & control** — Deprivation, lesioning and gene/brain measurement are possible in animals but not humans, so animal models reach mechanisms human studies cannot.

**Limitation — generalisation vs ethics trade-off** — Human behaviour has cultural and cognitive layers a monkey or rat lacks; and the very isolation studies that yield the cleanest data (Harlow) raise the sharpest welfare objections.

## Scope

> **note**
>
> The ethics of animal research is examined as a research consideration. The specific mechanisms these studies reveal (epigenetics, attachment) are covered by their own concept cards.

## Common pitfalls

- **Wrong:** Judging an animal study by human ethical rules — e.g. saying it broke 'informed consent'.
  - Why it fails: A frequently penalised misconception in IB Psychology exams.
  - Correct: Animal research is governed by animal-welfare frameworks (the 3 Rs, cost–benefit, licensing), not human-participant rules like informed consent. Evaluate it against the right standard.

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