Table 1
OSAAI (Observational System of Animal Assisted Interventions).
Criterion | Category | Code | Description |
1. Motor-space interaction | Postural changes | POS | The body positioning of the students changes level, for example: sitting upright, lying on the mat, seated, etc. |
Locomotion | LOC | The positioning of the students is standing and in locomotion. | |
Combination of the above | CEM | Any of the above options combined. | |
2. Kinetic | Stereotyped movements | EST | Students perform repetitive motor movements with no end or apparent significance. |
Segmental movements | SEG | Students perform upper or lower limb movements. | |
Combination of the above | CC | Any of the above options combined. | |
3. Interactive facial behavior | Expression of emotions of pleasure | PLA | Students express pleasure through verbal or non-verbal communication (guttural sounds, laughter, body movements associated with well-being…). |
Expression of emotions of displeasure | DES | Students express displeasure through verbal or non-verbal communication (guttural sounds of displeasure, crying…). | |
Neutral | NEU | Students show a neutral behavior, they remain balanced from the emotional point of view, they do not show any of the two emotional extremes previously described. | |
4. Animal-participant interaction | Distance from the animal | DIS | Students take the action of separating from the animal or rejecting its contact. |
Approach to the animal | APR | Students do the action of intentionally approaching the animal. | |
Contact with the animal | CON | Students do the action of touching/caressing the animal. | |
Manipulation | MAN | Students do the action of manipulating the animal. It is considered the highest gradient of intentionality on the part of the students. | |
5. Participant emits to the animal | Participant emits to the animal | PAN | Students issue information, slogans or refer to the animal. Whether on a verbal or paraverbal level. |
6. Adult-participant interaction | Participant emits information | PAR | Students issue information addressed to the adult. Whether on a verbal or paraverbal level. |
Adult emits information | ADU | The adult provides information addressed to the students. Whether on a verbal or paraverbal level. | |
Combination of the above | CAP | Any of the above options combined. | |
7. Animal-adult interaction | Relocation of the animal | REC | The adult relocates the animal following pedagogical or animal welfare criteria. |