Data from: Animal emotions and consciousness: A preliminary assessment of researchers’ perceptions and biases and prospects for future progress
Data files
Mar 16, 2026 version files 431.24 KB
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definitions_cohens_k.csv
3.43 KB
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emo_consc_data.csv
46.89 KB
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emotions_and_animal_behavior_survey_data_choice_text.csv
261.89 KB
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emotions_survey_data.csv
66.79 KB
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individual_consc_confidence_data.csv
24.29 KB
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individual_emotions_confidence_data.csv
24.28 KB
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README.md
3.66 KB
Abstract
Scientists and philosophers have long struggled with the question of whether non-human animals experience emotions or consciousness. Yet, it is unclear where the scientific consensus on these topics lies today. To address this gap, we administered a survey of professional animal behavior researchers to assess perceptions regarding (1) taxonomic distribution of emotions and consciousness in non-human animals, (2) respondents’ confidence in this assessment, and (3) attitudes towards pitfalls and potential for progress when addressing these questions. Respondents (n=100) ascribe emotionality and consciousness to a broad swath of the animal taxonomy, including non-human primates, other mammals, birds, and cephalopods. Respondents’ attribution of these phenomena was strongly with their confidence in their assessments (R2 > 0.9), with respondents assuming an absence of emotions and consciousness when they were unsure. We also identify an emergent consensus of the components involved in a functional definition of emotions. Researchers are optimistic that tools either currently exist or will exist in the future to rigorously address these questions (>85%) and that animal behavior, as a field, should do more to encourage emotions research (71%). We discuss implications for publication bias and future work in this area as well as ethical considerations regarding animal care and use.
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.bvq83bkjw
Description of the data and file structure
Documentation accompanying "Animal Emotions and Consciousness: A Preliminary Assessment of Researchers’ Perceptions and Biases and Prospects for Future Progress."
Authors: Matthew N Zipple1, Caleb Hazelwood2, Mackenzie F Webster3, Marcela E Benítez*4
1Laboratory for Animal Social Evolution and Recognition, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca NY, 14853
2Department of Philosophy, Duke University, Durham NC, 27701
3Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322
4Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322
*correspondence to: marcela.benitez@emory.edu
This set of files contains one r script along with 5 data files needed to support it. The R script ("Code for uploading.R") reproduces all figures and analyses from the manuscript.
The data files and explanations for them are as follows:
- definitions_cohens_k.csv: A file showing scoring of definitions of emotion provided by each anonymized respondent. Each definition was scored by MZ and MW for containing each of 4 definitional components. These scores are contained in the first two columns. Columns thereafter identify whether each of MZ and MW included each of the 4 components in their scoring. This file supports calculations of Cohen's k for agreement between the two scorer's assessment of the definitions.
- emo_consc_data.csv: This file contains four columns. ID: the anonymized ID of the respondent. value: Binary indicator of whether the respondent identified "most" or "all or nearly all" (either response scored as 1) members of a taxon displayed the phenomenon. type: Whether the respondent was assessing the presence of emotions or consciousness. taxa: the taxon that the respondent was assessing.
- emotions_and_animal_behavior_survey_data_choice_text.csv: Text based responses to our survey. All columns are explained as subheaders within the .csv itself
- emotions_survey_data.csv: Number-based responses to our survey. All columns are explained as subheaders within the .csv itself.
- individual_consc_confidence_data.csv: This file contains four columns. ID: the anonymized ID of the respondent. Consciousness: the numeric score assessing the distribution of consciousness in the taxon (i.e. none = 1, some = 2, most =3, all/nearly all = 4). Confidence: the numeric confidence that the respondent provided for their assessment (1-5, least to most confident). taxa: the taxon that the respondent was assessing.
- individual_emotions_confidence_data.csv: This file contains four columns. ID: the anonymized ID of the respondent. Emotions: the numeric score assessing the distribution of emotions in the taxon (i.e. none = 1, some = 2, most =3, all/nearly all = 4). Confidence: the numeric confidence that the respondent provided for their assessment (1-5, least to most confident). taxa: the taxon that the respondent was assessing.
Human subjects data
Prior to beginning the survey, participants were informed that their responses would be published but only after being anonymized. Participants were also informed that they could end the survey at any time, and we would not publish responses from partial survey completion.
Each individual was assigned a non-informative, anonymous identifier prior to analysis and publication. No personally identifiable information is included in the published data.