Aim of the Research​

​​​This research aims to investigate how animal guardians monitor the welfare of animals in their care using the Mellorater app. The app is based on the Five Domains Model of animal welfare (nutrition, environment, health, behavioural interactions, and mental state). It is designed for use with all animals living in domestic or managed environments. Your participation will help us understand how people use the app, whether responses vary depending on the species being assessed, and how confident users feel in their judgments. This information will inform future refinements to the app and support the development of better animal welfare tools and education resources.

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Questionnaire

If you choose to participate, you will be asked to complete a short welfare assessment for one animal in your care. The app presents 18 statements, each scored on a five-point Likert scale, and asks you to rate your confidence in each response. An assessment takes approximately five minutes. You can choose to use the app repeatedly over time to monitor welfare changes and visualise trends in quality of life for the animal.

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Confidentiality

No personal or identifying information is collected during your use of the app. You are not asked to provide your name or contact details at any point while using the app. All responses are anonymous. In any publications or presentations resulting from this research, no information will be included that could identify individual users.

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Participation is Voluntary

Participation is completely voluntary. You may withdraw at any time by simply discontinuing use of the app; however, because no identifying data are collected, responses already submitted cannot be withdrawn. You may withdraw from participation in the research at any time. This can be done using the settings menu within the application or by discontinuing use of the app. However, because no identifying information is collected, submitted responses cannot be withdrawn. There are no consequences for not participating or for ceasing your participation at any time.

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Questions

The questions are not of a sensitive nature. However, assessing an animal’s welfare may occasionally highlight signs of decline, which some users may find upsetting.

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Use of Information

Data from this study will be used to improve the Mellorater app and may also inform academic publications or conference presentations. At all times, data will be presented in aggregate and in a way that ensures individual responses cannot be identified.

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Upsetting Issues
Assessing an animal’s welfare may occasionally highlight signs of decline, which some users may find upsetting. If you experience distress, you may wish to contact support services. If you reside in Australia, you may contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

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Storage of Information

All responses are stored securely on a UNE-managed cloud server (cloud.une.edu.au). Data may be shared with other researchers or used for future publications, but only in anonymised form.

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Approval
This project has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the University of New England (Approval No………., Valid to ../../….).

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Researchers

For questions about the project, please contact: Dr William Billingsley (Principal Investigator) Email: wbilling@une.edu.au Phone: +612 6773 2513. You may also contact my co-investigators: Cristina Wilkins, email: cwilki23@myune.edu.au phone: +61 421 920 670; Paul McGreevy, email: paul.mcgreevy@sydney.edu.au phone: +61 423 464 505; Bidda Jones, email: bidda.jones@sydney.edu.au phone: +61 422 542 175.

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Complaints
 

Should you have any complaints concerning the manner in which this research is conducted, please contact:

Mrs Jo-Ann Sozou, Human Research Ethics Officer Research Services, University of New England,  

Armidale, NSW  2351 • Tel: (02) 6773 1115 • Email: humanethics@une.edu.au

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Download

You can download a pdf version of this Information Sheet to Participants by clicking the PDF button below.

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Thank you for considering this request

By clicking continue, you agree to participate in this research

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