Navigating challenges in applied animal behaviour and welfare research: A focus group study

Academics in applied animal behaviour and welfare science may face challenges while working within the constraints imposed by institutional and regulatory frameworks. However, to our knowledge, no studies have attempted to describe the nature of these difficulties and whether there are regional differences. This database contains the supplementary materials of a focus group study with 47 delegates attending the 56th Congress of the International Society of Applied Ethology (ISAE) held in Tallinn, Estonia, in August 2023. Participants represented 33 countries covering five continents. Using a semi-structured discussion guide, participants were encouraged to discuss their challenges, proposed solutions to the identified challenges, and the role international societies could play in overcoming some of these challenges. All focus group discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed and subjected to thematic analyses. Three main themes were identified: (1) the discipline of animal behaviour and welfare, (2) conducting and sharing research, and (3) researcher welfare and networking. Participants described numerous barriers hindering their research process, originating from within their academic institutions, local governments, and journal guidelines but also arising from prejudice and other personal challenges. Many of the challenges identified were shared among all participants, regardless of region, but specific socio-demographic groups more strongly voiced some issues. While solutions were difficult to identify, many participants communicated their willingness to collaborate as a first step to striving for solutions to the identified challenges.

应用动物行为与福利科学领域的学者，在受机构及监管制度约束开展研究时，往往会遭遇各类挑战。据我们所知，目前尚无研究尝试阐明这些困境的本质，以及是否存在区域差异。本数据库包含一项焦点小组研究的补充材料，该研究的参与者为2023年8月在爱沙尼亚塔林举办的第56届国际应用动物行为学学会（International Society of Applied Ethology, ISAE）大会的47名代表，参与者覆盖五大洲的33个国家。本次研究采用半结构化讨论指南，引导与会者围绕其所面临的挑战、针对已识别困境的解决方案，以及国际学会在克服部分此类挑战中可发挥的作用展开讨论。所有焦点小组讨论均进行了录音、转录，并开展了主题分析。最终确定了三大核心主题：（1）动物行为与福利学科发展；（2）研究开展与成果共享；（3）研究者福利与学术网络构建。参与者提及了诸多阻碍研究进程的障碍，这些障碍既来自其所在学术机构、地方政府与期刊出版规范，也源于偏见及其他个人层面的困境。尽管存在地域差异，但多数已识别的挑战为所有参与者所共同面临，不过部分问题在特定社会人口学群体中得到了更强烈的反馈。尽管难以快速敲定解决方案，但诸多参与者均表示愿意开展协作，将其作为推动解决已识别困境的首要步骤。