Faunalytics is an animal protection charity that is known for producing research to try and help animal advocates be more effective.
Ideally, Faunalytics' research projects would explore important questions that cannot be answered with common sense. However, we think that much of Faunalytics' research falls short in this regard.
For example, below we've listed the first recommendation for animal advocates given by each research paper Faunalytics wrote in 2024:
Research Paper: Joining Forces: Collaborative Opportunities Between The Animal Protection And Environmental Movements
Faunalytics' Recommendation: "Don't hesitate to reach out to environmental organizations that you're interested in collaborating with."
Research Paper: Bridging U.S. Conservative Values And Animal Protection
Faunalytics' Recommendation: "When working with conservative lawmakers, pursue legislation that aligns with conservative values, and position arguments accordingly."
Research Paper: Research And Data As Tools In Advocates' Decision-Making
Faunalytics' Recommendation: "Share research plans and outputs to maximize learning and decrease redundancy."
Research Paper: Pathways To Impact: An International Study Of Advocates' Strategies And Needs
Faunalytics' Recommendation: "Larger organizations can develop and share blueprints of successful campaigns with groups in other regions."
Research Paper: What Vegan Advocates Can Learn From The Social Spread Of Quitting Smoking
Faunalytics' Recommendation: "Consider expanding interventions to also include social groups rather than just individuals."
Research Paper: Creating A More Equitable Movement: Compensation In The Farmed Animal Advocacy Sector
Faunalytics' Recommendation: "Be transparent with your staff about how you determine pay and benefits, including limitations, and regularly review these processes."
Research Paper: The Role Of Humanewashing In Grocery Stores: How Welfare Labels Affect Purchasing Behavior
Faunalytics' Recommendation: "Educate consumers about animal welfare certifications."
Research Paper: Research And Data As Tools In Advocates' Decision-Making: A Focus On China & Southeast Asia
Faunalytics' Recommendation: "For organizations in Asia, explore alternative funding and human resources."
Did thousands of dollars need to be spent on research to make these recommendations? In our view, no.
Faunalytics has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on research, but we think this research has little value. For this reason, we do not recommend donating to Faunalytics.
Note: Faunalytics also does other work, such as running a blog and summarizing third-party articles, but in our opinion this work suffers from problems similar to the ones above.
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