Not all behavioral research directly involves animals. There are alternative ways of conducting some research, and psychologists are increasingly using them. Whenever an investigator finds it possible to use an alternative method, he or she will be motivated to do so because alternative methods not only spare the animals but may also be faster and less expensive. Computers are widely used. But even a computer programmed to model a rat's behavior must be based on actual knowledge obtained by studies of rats' behavior.
All behavioral science is rooted in direct observation of humans and animals.
The reactions of a whole organism are essential to understanding the interaction of various body systems and behavior. Some persons ask why tissue cultures are not used instead of animals. Tissue cultures never develop depression, alcoholism, autism or learning disorders, memory impairments, aggressive behavior, social abnormalities or problems that psychologists study, and that is why they are rarely useful to behavioral scientists. Natural Settings Others may ask why animals can't be studied in the wild rather than in the laboratory. Psychologists do observe and study animals in natural environments.