Preference Test Design in Applied Animal Settings: A Scoping Review

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dc.contributor.authorTurner, J.T.
dc.contributor.authorWhittaker, A.L.
dc.contributor.authorMcLelland, D.J.
dc.contributor.authorHanson, S.
dc.contributor.authorFernandez, E.J.
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstractPreference tests (also referred to as preference assessments) in applied animal settings, are often utilised to facilitate the selection of stimuli or events for applications such as animal training rewards and environmental enrichment. Several different preference assessments have been devised and utilised with animals to evaluate different stimuli/events. However, there has not been a published review evaluating the variety of factors that can differ, including assessment method, stimulus type, and setting. We performed a scoping review of the literature across several databases, creating criteria to include systematic preference tests conducted on captive animals in applied settings (e.g., zoological institutions, companion animals, and farms). Factors examined included the type of preference test used, stimulus items employed, setting type, taxon of animal, and type of response data collected. We identified 74 papers that met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were conducted on species in the taxonomic orders Carnivora and Primates. Food was the most often used item across all settings. Zoos had the most diversity in item type, including olfactory stimuli and social interactions. We explored how preference assessments can be better implemented across a variety of settings, stimuli, species, measures collected, and assessment method used. The impact of how preferences change over time remains understudied and poorly understood.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityJessica T. Turner, Alexandra L. Whittaker, David J. McLelland, Sara L. Hanson, Eduardo J. Fernandez
dc.identifier.citationApplied Animal Behaviour Science, 2025; 282:106476-1-106476-13
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106476
dc.identifier.issn0168-1591
dc.identifier.issn0168-1591
dc.identifier.orcidTurner, J.T. [0000-0002-9557-9689]
dc.identifier.orcidWhittaker, A.L. [0000-0001-9011-8296]
dc.identifier.orcidHanson, S. [0009-0005-1792-3797]
dc.identifier.orcidFernandez, E.J. [0000-0001-5444-6604]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2440/146613
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherElsevier
dc.rights© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
dc.source.urihttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159124003241
dc.subjectPreference test; Preference assessment; Applied animal setting; Scoping review
dc.titlePreference Test Design in Applied Animal Settings: A Scoping Review
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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