Animal communicator international scan of books, websites, animal communicator directory

Four datasets are included focusing on animal communicators (AC): practitioners of intuitive interspecies communication (IIC). Dataset #1: International English language websites data set (n = 400). To be included and coded, websites had to meet the following 3 criteria: (1) have an English language version of the website, (2) currently offer private AC consultations, and (3) be identified before website analysis was determined comprehensive enough to represent the international scope of AC (Oct. 30, 2020). Dataset #2: International English language published books. Total books (n = 191): Books were identified through internet searches, including searches on Amazon and used bookstores such as Abe Books, from practicing AC websites, and from the directory: Book Authority Website for “53 Best Animal Communication Books of All Time,” https://bookauthority.org/books/best-animal-communication-books. Dataset includes books’ titles, descriptions, front and back covers and tables of contents where available. Where it was not clear whether the author was an animal communicator who consulted with clients, we did additional online searches to make this determination. All books had an English language printed copy of the book. We excluded books that were available in electronic copy only. We expanded our initial content inclusion criteria used in the website report beyond individuals currently offering consultations as professional animal communicators to include: (1) professional animal communicators who have since retired; (2) individuals who work intensively with animals in other capacities such as healing, but also report instances of IIC; (3) individuals who may not have worked as professional animal communicators, but write about their own lived experience of the phenomena; and (4) books written by individuals who are not ACs but have interviewed ACs. Where a book was written by two authors, or in some cases, an animal communicator with an additional author, we included both authors in our formal citation. Books were written by ACs who offered professional services (182), or authors who were not ACs (9). Dataset #3: Directory of practicing ACs (1990-2011; n = 80 issues). To provide a snapshot of growth in numbers of practitioners over time, we compiled listings of ACs published in the Animal Communicator Directory from Species Link: The Journal of Interspecies Telepathic Communication. From 1990-2011, the publication included a directory of practicing ACs; after 2011, the directory went fully online, and data from each year is not available. Dataset #4: Reference List of 15 Published Animal Communicator Books with formal or informal “How-To” Sections. Compiled to identify and summarize the ways in which ACs were describing essential processes for conducting a successful intuitive communication session with animals, and thus provide an overview of what happens in an IIC session. Selection criteria: We were seeking succinct summaries from ACs. The intent was not to dig into and analyze processes in detail, but rather to summarize and synthesize the essential processes and steps as the ACs were reporting them. As such, it was beyond the scope of this study to analyze reported example communications or analyze processes in books where the entirety of the book was describing communications with animals. Publication date range: 1998-2019. Close to 300 pages were analyzed. The actual "how-to" excerpts are not included as they are subject to copyright. For further information on data collection and analysis details contact M.J. Barrett, PhD. [e-mail] Funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Insight Development Grant: Deepening Connection in Pursuit of Environmental Sustainability: Assessing a Promising Lever for Shifting Assumptions of Separation (Grant # 430-2019-01023).