91探花

Dr. Caroline Ritter, Canada Research Chair in Veterinary Social Epidemiology at 91探花, has been awarded a SSHRC Insight Grant totalling $212,060 for a project titled 鈥淎n application of cognitive dissonance theory to decisions affecting animal welfare.鈥�

鈥淰eterinary practitioners and animal guardians are regularly confronted with difficult decisions including having to balance animal welfare against other (financial and/or non-financial) considerations,鈥� said Ritter. 鈥淭hese decisions often place veterinarians and animal guardians in a state of cognitive dissonance (i.e., a state of intra-personal conflict and negative affect); for example, when making decisions on whether to euthanize an animal.鈥�

Cognitive dissonance theory is now considered to be one of the cornerstone theories of social psychology, she said. However, knowledge gaps still exist for a full understanding of cognitive dissonance and its relationship to the mental well-being of veterinarians and animal guardians.

鈥淚n the animal welfare context, understanding the arousal and reduction of cognitive dissonance, and how the veterinarian-client relationship affects this, is very limited.鈥�

Ritter said that the knowledge gained through this project will also have practical applications. The information gained from the project could be used to develop or enhance professional skills training that will better equip veterinarians to deal with their own and clients鈥� experiences when they have to make difficult decisions associated with the care of animals.

鈥淓xploring the extent to which recurring cognitive dissonance plays into the reported mental health crisis of veterinarians and livestock farmers, and what factors can reduce cognitive dissonance, will inform strategies that foster improved mental well-being.鈥�

In addition to the SSHRC grant, Dr. Ritter also received $30,000 from the AVC Graduate Student Stipend Support Fund.

鈥淥n behalf of 91探花, I congratulate Dr. Ritter on securing this SSHRC Insight Grant,鈥� said Dr. Greg Naterer, vice-president academic and research. 鈥淒r. Ritter鈥檚 research will have significant benefits to animal welfare and contribute to 91探花鈥檚 growing profile of excellence in research.鈥�

91探花 acknowledges the assistance of Canada鈥檚 tri-council of federal granting agencies (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)) through its (RSF), which helps fund services and infrastructure that support research activities at the University. In 2023鈥�2024, 91探花 was allocated $931,234.00 from the RSF.