Views on equine-related research in Australia from the Australian equestrian community: perceived outputs and benefits.
Abstract: The extension of research into public practice is enhanced by communication and behaviour change strategies that are consistent with consumer needs and perspectives. To gain support for equine research (or to appreciate the perspectives contributing to disagreement), it is necessary to determine how aware consumers are of research, what research means to them, how they perceive its benefits (if at all) and how they engage with (or resist) it. Because of a surprising dearth of research evaluating consumer perceptions of research in any sector, our aim was to identify the perceived outputs and benefits of research from the perspective of the Australian horse owner. Methods: We analysed the data for 930 participants in an online survey. Results: Participants' understanding of research was associated with a broad terminology. Slightly more than half were aware of equine research that had taken place in Australia, with almost half reporting gaining some benefit, notably in relation to equine health. Although comments demonstrated an awareness of the collective benefit of research, research was made meaningful in relation to local conditions and participants' own equestrian disciplines. Conclusions: There is a significant opportunity for increasing awareness of Australia-based equine research and its value to owners of horses. The critical engagement with research by some owners suggests the need for communicators to present research in terms suitable for an intelligent lay audience, with clear identification of the personal and collective benefits for owners, horses and the equestrian community.
© 2016 Australian Veterinary Association.
Publication Date: 2016-03-30 PubMed ID: 27021888DOI: 10.1111/avj.12420Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This research involves a study of how the Australian equestrian community perceives equine research, with findings suggesting that there is significant room for increasing awareness and understanding of the benefits of such research.
Objective and Methodology
- The study sought to understand how consumers, in this case, horse owners in Australia, perceive and engage with equine research. It aimed to identify the perceived outputs and benefits of the research to gain support or understand any disagreement towards it. The underpinning idea is that consumer needs and perspectives can boost the translation of research into practice.
- The researchers used an online survey method to gather data. A total of 930 participants took part in the online survey, providing a wide range of responses to analyze.
Results
- The results showed that participants’ understanding of research was associated with a broad terminology. They seemed to have different definitions or understandings of what entails ‘research’.
- Slightly over half of the participants were aware that equine research had taken place in Australia. However, it suggests nearly half of the respondents were oblivious to equine research in the country.
- Of those aware of the research, about half reported that they had gained some benefits from it, essentially regarding equine health.
- While respondents demonstrated the acknowledgment of the collective benefit of research, they made the research meaningful in correlation to their local conditions and their own equestrian disciplines. It means that people attached more value to the research that directly impacted their horses or disciplines.
Conclusions
- The study concludes that there is a considerable opportunity to increase awareness of Australia-based equine research and its value to horse owners.
- The researchers call for more effective communication strategies that present research in terms suitable for a lay audience, making clear the personal and collective benefits of the research for horse owners, the horses, and the overall equestrian community.
Cite This Article
APA
Thompson K, Clarkson L.
(2016).
Views on equine-related research in Australia from the Australian equestrian community: perceived outputs and benefits.
Aust Vet J, 94(4), 89-95.
https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.12420 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Central Queensland University, Appleton Institute for Behavioural Science, Wayville, South Australia, Australia. kirrilly.thompson@CQU.edu.au.
- Central Queensland University, Appleton Institute for Behavioural Science, Wayville, South Australia, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Husbandry / standards
- Animal Husbandry / trends
- Animals
- Australia
- Community Participation
- Evidence-Based Medicine / standards
- Evidence-Based Medicine / trends
- Horses
- Ownership
- Research / standards
- Research / trends
- Surveys and Questionnaires
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Pickering P, Hockenhull J. Optimising the Efficacy of Equine Welfare Communications: Do Equine Stakeholders Differ in Their Information-Seeking Behaviour and Communication Preferences?. Animals (Basel) 2019 Dec 20;10(1).
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
