Hall, Sophie Susannah, Gee, Nancy R. and Mills, Daniel Simon (2016) Children reading to dogs: a systematic review of the literature. PLoS ONE, 11 (2). e0149759. ISSN 1932-6203
Full content URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0149759
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Hall et al 2016_Systematic_Review_Children_Reading_Dogs_PLOS.pdf - Whole Document Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. 860kB |
Item Type: | Article |
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Item Status: | Live Archive |
Abstract
Background
Despite growing interest in the value of human-animal interactions (HAI) to human mental and physical health the quality of the evidence on which postulated benefits from animals to human psychological health are based is often unclear. To date there exist no systematic reviews on the effects of HAI in educational settings specifically focussing on the perceived benefits to children of reading to dogs. With rising popularity and implementation of these programmes in schools, it is essential that the evidence base exploring the pedagogic value of these initiatives is well documented.
Methods
Using PRISMA guidelines we systematically investigated the literature reporting the pedagogic effects of reading to dogs. Because research in this area is in the early stages of scientific enquiry we adopted broad inclusion criteria, accepting all reports which discussed measurable effects related to the topic that were written in English. Multiple online databases were searched during January-March 2015; grey literature searches were also conducted. The search results which met the inclusion criteria were evaluated, and discussed, in relation to the Oxford Centre for Evidence Based Medicine levels of evidence; 27 papers were classified as Level 5, 13 as Level 4, 7 as Level 2c and 1 as Level 2b.
Conclusion
The evidence suggests that reading to a dog may have a beneficial effect on a number of behavioural processes which contribute to a positive effect on the environment in which reading is practiced, leading to improved reading performance. However, the evidence base on which these inferences are made is of low quality. There is a clear need for the use of higher quality research methodologies and the inclusion of appropriate controls in order to draw causal inferences on whether or how reading to dogs may benefit children’s reading practices. The mechanisms for any effect remain a matter of conjecture
Keywords: | Companion animals, JCOpen |
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Subjects: | C Biological Sciences > C810 Applied Psychology D Veterinary Sciences, Agriculture and related subjects > D300 Animal Science C Biological Sciences > C812 Educational Psychology C Biological Sciences > C820 Developmental Psychology |
Divisions: | College of Science > School of Life Sciences |
Related URLs: | |
ID Code: | 22337 |
Deposited On: | 23 Feb 2016 09:26 |
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