Data: Cognitive Vulnerabilities Animal Attributions Survey

Full description

Background:

This study employed a correlational and predictive research design. The predictor variables in the study were cognitive vulnerability (CV) and anthropomorphic attributions (AA) towards animals, while the outcome variable was willingness to own (WTO). Fear was investigated as the third variable acting as the mediator between cognitive vulnerability and the WTO and as the moderator for the effects of anthropomorphic attributions on the WTO. The type of animal was considered an independent variable in the study with two levels: high fear (snake and spider) and low fear (cat and rabbit). 

Methods: A total of 341 respondents were recruited for an online survey through convenience and snowball sampling; 121 datasets (35%) were excluded from the analyses because they were mostly incomplete. The final sample consisted of 220 participants (68.6% female and 83.6% pet owners). Nine participants identified as non-binary/third gender and one preferred not to disclose. Their ages ranged between 18 and 64 years (M age = 34.14 years, SD = 10.96). The sample included students from James Cook University (JCU) and other universities who were recruited through email via a specified person of contact, as well as community participants. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the JCU Human Research Ethics Committee (H9129). 

This data record contains:

• De-identified survey data and variable names in .csv, .sav and .ods format

Software/equipment used to create/collect the data: Qualtrics Experience Management platform used to create and disseminate the survey, and to export data
SPSS Version 29.0.1.1 used to export Survey data

Software/equipment used to manipulate/analyse the data: SPSS Version 29.0.1.1