We would like to invite you to participate in a study of how people and their animal companions interact with each other. The study involves completing a questionnaire, and takes about 45 minutes to an hour. Your anonymity will be preserved, and you are welcome to a copy of the article based on this research. If you would like to participate or to find out more about the study, please call Debra Stephens at the University of Michigan at 764- 4713.
Research team:
Debra L. Stephens, Ph.D.
Visiting Professor, University of Michigan
Morris Holbrook, Ph.D.
Professor, Columbia University
Sally Holbrook, Ph.D.
Psychologist, New York, New York
We are interested in learning more about how people interact with their animal companions. We welcome independent responses from any or all members of your household. If you have more than one animal companion, please choose one that everybody would like to tell us about. When you are answering the questions, specific details and examples would be especially helpful. Please type or print your answers on separate paper, so that you will have plenty of space in which to respond. Your responses will be reported anonymously in the write-up of our research.
1. a. Please list the people in your household (first names),
and the relationships.
b. Please list the animals (names, types, genders, ages) in your
household. Which animal will you focus on here?
2. How did the animal come to live with you?
3. a. Who feeds the animal?
b. Who walks him (her) or cleans the litter box or cage?
c. Where does the animal sleep?
d. Does s/he stay in an enclosed area? If so, what kind?
4. Please describe any especially unusual or interesting behavior on the part of your pet -- that is, peculiar activities that you find cute, smart, endearing, or otherwise remarkable.
5. a. To whom does the animal appear to be most attached? How
does s/he show this attachment?
b. Who is most attached to the animal? How does he or she show
these feelings?
c. Does the animal appear to dislike or fear anyone in the
household? If so, please explain.
d. Does the animal appear to annoy or frighten anyone in the
household? If so, please explain.
6. a. Does the animal bring out a different side of anyone in
the household? If so, please explain.
b. Does your animal bring people in the family closer together
in any significant way(s)? If so, please explain.
c. Does your animal produce conflict in the family in any
important way(s)? If yes, please explain.
7. In 25 words or less, please describe "what my pet means to me."
If you have a photo of yourself or your family with your pet, and you would feel comfortable sharing it with us, we would be glad to return it to you when the study is completed.
Thank you very much for sharing your experiences with us.