Introduction: The author will discuss the role of computer-based research in Anthrozoology, proposing it as an emerging field of research: Computational Anthrozoology. This term includes both (i) using computers to study human interspecies relationships (the computer ‘as the lens’) and (ii) studying human interspecies relationships that are themselves mediated by computers (the computer ‘under the lens’).
Methodology: Critical reflection has been applied to the application of computers (or any other digital-era technology) to Anthrozoology. It will be argued that ‘now’ is an appropriate time to think carefully about how we currently use technology in our research. What do the technological tools that we choose, say about our inherent biases and the filters or distance that we may place between ourselves and the participants that we observe? In addition, this work asks: “what happens when human interactions with other animals are mediated by technology (for example: dogs watching TV with humans, cat enrichment with tablet-based computer games or horses living in an automated housing system)?”.
Main Findings: Computational Anthrozoology is a field that is both data-driven (‘as the lens’) and reflexive (‘under the lens’). As such, it is open to the use of mixed and hybrid methodological approaches, combining elements of the quantitative (for example: statistics, ethology-based observations) and the qualitative (for example: ethnography).
Principal Conclusions and Implications for Field: Anthrozoology researchers are already highly dependent on computer-based systems to mediate their understanding of interactions between humans and other animals. It is proposed that this dependence would benefit from greater levels of reflection. In addition, technology is increasingly present in all areas of our interaction with non-humans. For example, when we attach a GPS tracker to a studied individual, we are potentially modifying their range of behavioural responses. Therefore, we need to reflect on the role of technology in all aspects of our practice. This may also mean welcoming colleagues from computer science fields (such as Human-Computer Interaction and Animal-Computer Interaction), broadening still further Anthrozoology’s multidisciplinary base. Computational Anthrozoology has potential crossovers with the following fields: computational anthropology, digital anthropology, techno-anthropology, digital ethnography, cyber anthropology, virtual anthropology and animal-computer interaction.