Dog Talking and Walking Research, online survey, interviews and everyday observation
Publications
- Peel, E. & Slocombe, F. (2022) Dog Talking and Walking Survey: Findings Summary. Loughborough University: Unpublished Report. November. https://wellbeingdog.wordpress.com/2022/10/31/survey-findings-summary/
- Peel, E. (2022) Human-Dog Companionship and Wellbeing: Decentring the human in critical health psychology? ISCHP 24 August [blog post] Human-Dog Companionship and Wellbeing: Decentring the human in critical health psychology? – International Society of Critical Health Psychology (ischp.net)
- Peel, E., Riggs, D.W. & Taylor, N. (frth.) Love, Loss and Animals: A posthumanist account of dementia in multispecies kinship. In N. Jenkins, A. Jack-Waugh & L. Ritchie (Eds.) Multi-Species Dementia Studies: Towards an interdisciplinary approach. Bristol University Press.
THE STUDY
The purpose is to gain information relating to dogs as animal companions and mental and physical well-being.
The study aims to understand:
- how communication and human activity with dogs has changed during the pandemic
- the extent to which dogs support human social interaction
- how dogs support physical activity in different groups of adults.
ABOUT ME
Professor Elizabeth Peel is a psychology researcher at Loughborough University, UK
The Dog Talking and Walking Research is an exciting new project for 2022-2023.
They specialize in communication and social interaction and have conducted social psychology research for over 20 years on diverse topics including sexualities, relationships, and chronic illnesses affecting older people like dementia. She has published one article on dogs in the past, which you can read in the British Journal of General Practice HERE.
Talks about the project
Peel, E. (2023) How canines catalyse community – and sometimes care and complaint: A feminist discourse analysis of dog facilitated social interaction. BPS Psychology of Women & Equalities Section Conference, Cumberland Lodge, 5-7 July.
Peel, E. (2023) Canine companions and social interaction: Barking up the right tree for health and wellbeing. Public Lecture. 5 April. Flinders University.
Peel, E. (2023) Animal companionship and LGBTQ people’s health and wellbeing. Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society. La Trobe University. 30 March.
Peel, E. (2023) Pawsome? Animal companionship and LGBTQ people’s health and wellbeing. Australian National University. 27 March.
Peel, E. (2023) Interspecies intersubjectivity – data session. Discourse & Rhetoric Group (DARG). Loughborough University. 28 February.
Peel, E. (2022) ‘I love dogs, all dogs, humans not so much’: Reflections on online surveys as a gateway to more in-depth qualitative methods. BPS QMIP Conference, DMU Leicester, 13-15 July.
Any adult with a dog participated though
People living with dementia, mild cognitive impairment, or a learning difference / disability
People of Colour / BAME heritage
LGBTQI+ people
Men or male identified people
People who lost or got a dog during the pandemic
People living in all parts of the UK
were especially encouraged to participate.
Thanks to the 673 people who took part in the online survey. And the 41 people who were interviewed. A summary of the survey findings is available at https://wellbeingdog.wordpress.com/2022/10/31/survey-findings-summary/
Contact: e.peel@lboro.ac.uk
Telephone: 01509 228176
Twitter @profpeel
Favourable Ethical Review from Loughborough University School of Social Sciences and Humanities Ethics Sub-Committee 8/4/2022
Project ID: 8354 8383
Copyright: Elizabeth Peel, April 2022
Dog Talking and Walking Research 