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Pets and people
Article Questions
Article 1
Research Objective
The research study intends to identify the limits to which the presence of others, providing social and emotional support, affects an individuals reactions to stressful conditions. The research further intends to compare and contrast the results obtained in a laboratory setting to those achieved in a field setting.
Implications of Results
The findings of the study provide significant insight into the relationship of women and their friends or pets under stressful conditions. The results show that pets are more helpful than female friends or the absence of friends.
Keywords
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The research explores the effects and benefits of potentially evaluative social support as compared to non-evaluative social support.
Participants
The participants of the study are 45 pet owners. It is important to note that they are willing participants, and their average age is 38.95 years. They are recorded as being very close to their pets.
Materials
The stimuli were the material encouragements as each participant was paid $25 for the participation (Allen et al, 1991).
Procedure
The participants sat in a room and received tape recorded instructions on the tests. After the very tests, the participants took a rest and had their psychological information recorded. The procedure applied a series of arithmetic tasks. The first was counting backwards from a particular number. The second was the subtraction of 7s backwards starting from an absolute number. Home experiment used similar tasks except a change in the numbers involved.
Independent variables
The independent variables in the study are the settings of the participants. The study compares results from two different settings. The third independent variable is the presence or absence of companion during a stressful task. The fourth independent variable is the kind of companion present during the performance of stressful task (Allen et al, 1991).
Dependent variable
The dependent variable of the study is the psychological reaction of the participants during stressful conditions when exposed to evaluative or non-evaluative companionship.
Results
The research found that the participants performed significantly well in stressful conditions in the presence of their pets. Their performance was reduced in the presence of a female friend. It is therefore true that the presence of pets provides emotional support for individuals.
Article 2
Research Question
The study aims to describe the health benefits associated with pets especially regarding chronic diseases. The central research question is concerned with the contribution of pets to the holistic well-being of an individual.
Implications of Results
The findings of the study provide valuable information on the advantages of keeping a pet, as well as benefits associated with good health. The results would help a number of people in the world in decision-making on the question of keeping pets.
Keywords
The study seeks to investigate the social psychology subjects of arousal and lifestyles in presence of pets (Friedman, 1995). Spending more time with pets has a great impact on the heath of individuals.
Participants
The study involved 784 pet owners and 4957 non-pet owners. The pet owners were aged between 20-59. The participants were a reflection of the population in Australia. The second study involved 71 participants who had acquired a pet recently. The information was compared to other 71 members who acted as control group.
Materials
The stimuli invoked in the study were the holistic well-being of the participants. The study followed changes in their health status over a short period. An assessment of the severity of diseases affecting the participants was also considered.
Procedure
The study concentrated on individuals who previously had no pets but have acquired them now. They were investigated for ten months and their current health conditions were compared to their past health conditions.
Independent variables
The study manipulated the lifestyles of the participants; such factors included regular exercise, chance to eat takeaway foods and availability of social support.
Dependent Factors
The state of health of the participants was considered in order to indicate the study. The emergence of diseases such as coronary heart disease or its severity was used to determine an answer to the research question (Friedman, 1995).
Results
The study concluded that the closeness with pets led to a great improvement in the health state of the participants of the study. The research question is answered. The results of the study confirm hypothesis claiming that there are health benefits associated with keeping pets.
Article 3
Research Objective
The study intends to establish the role of pets in facilitation of social interaction and integration. The research intends to answer the question about the benefits that pets bring to the community in general.
Implications of Results
The findings of the study would be used in the real world by communities, governments to see pets as a means of social integration and a unifying factor in the society.
Keywords
The study seeks to explore the aspect of social capital and community health.
Participants
The number of participants in the study is 339. All of them are from the same community and society. The minimum age of the participants selected for the study is 18 years. The study sought to have a fair representation of both genders in the research (Wood et al, 2005).
Stimuli
The study fronted the participants with questions ranging from their ownership of pets to how pets have facilitated their activities in the neighborhood. The research also noted the activities that those who had no pets missed.
Procedure
The research was conducted in a way of telephone interviews. The members had to be willing participants of the study and no remuneration was offered to them.
Independent variables
The first independent variable was the physical and emotional health condition of the members of the study. The second independent variable was the consistency of community participation that had been facilitated by pets.
Dependent variables
The dependent variable of the study included social engagement in the community, sense of belonging to the community and levels of trust inside the community.
Results
The study found that pets contributed a lot to the development of trust, friendliness and social participation in the community. In addition, ownership of pets facilitated the good physical and mental health of the owner. Answering the research question, pets are an integral part of the social capital and structure of a community (Wood et al, 2005).
