The Benefits and Challenges of Conducting Primate Research in Different Settings

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Primates have been used in research for the past hundred years as a window into our shared evolutionary history, to learn more about their unique behavioral and psychological processes, and as models for human behavior and diseases. Today, primate research takes place in laboratories, zoos, sanctuaries, and the wild. Research settings that most closely resemble primates’ natural habitats provide the best insights into their lives, produce more valid results, and reduce potential negative impacts on their well-being. This paper provides a novel overview of current non-invasive psychological research, and explores the benefits and challenges of conducting research with primates in different settings. It also suggests ways to help improve primate research to mitigate some scientific and ethical concerns. ABSTRACT: Internationally, primate research takes place in laboratories, zoos, sanctuaries, and the wild. All of these settings present unique advantages and challenges in terms of methodology, translatability, animal welfare, and ethics. In this novel commentary, we explore the scientific and ethical benefits and drawbacks of conducting non-invasive psychological research with primates in each setting. We also suggest ways to overcome some of the barriers. We argue that while there may be greater experimental control in laboratory-based research, settings that more closely mirror primates’ natural habitats are generally better suited to meet their specialized needs. More naturalistic research settings, including field studies, may also circumvent some ethical concerns associated with research in captivity, and yield more ecologically valid data.