Methods in Human-Animal Studies: Engaging With Animals Through the Social Sciences (Routledge Human-Animal Studies Series)

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Synopsis: This timely book provides a methodological guide for how to conduct and theorize research in human-animal studies. In response to critiques of the anthropomorphic slant to human-animal research, and the increasing political relevance of animals in contemporary environmental debates, this book emphasises methods which bring to light the animal side of multi-species encounters. Drawing from the interdisciplinary strength of human-animal studies, this book contains contributions from practitioners and scholars working in sociology, anthropology, ethology and geography. Each chapter uses a case-study approach to present a theoretical framework and empirical application of cutting-edge methods in human-animal studies, from creative writing in multi-species ethnographies, to visual methods like videography and body mapping. Organized in three parts: theorizing; collaborating; visualizing, the book equips readers with methodological tools to conduct human-animal studies research attentive to animal lives. Furthermore, chapters reflect on the opportunities, limitations, and ethical considerations of research that seeks to understand our more-than-human worlds. The book is aimed towards undergraduate and graduate students in human-animal studies, and scholars investigating human-animal relations. It will also be of interest to practitioners and policy makers who engage with conservation, wildlife management, or the human-animal interface of urban and regional planning.