PRIMATE SOCIAL BEHAVIOR AND ORGANIZATION

This seminar is designed for graduate students and for highly motivated and able advanced undergraduates who have had an introductory course in primate behavior. We will survey the descriptive and theoretical literature on primate social behavior and social organization. We will emphasize recent research, controversial topics and studies carried out in the field. Experimental studies on captive primates will also be called upon to supplement and clarify field observations. This course will be designed to coordinate with Anthropology 246 - An Introduction to Primate Behavior.

Requirements:

1. All students will be required to attend the lectures, films, etc., for APY 246 and to do the reading. These will provide the springboard for our discussions. The lectures will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 to 10:50 in 355 MFAC.

2. Literature Analyses: Each week students will be required to analyze in detail one or two readings on the subject(s) discussed in the lectures. In most cases these articles will be assigned. We will meet weekly to discuss the lecture material and your literature analyses. Each analysis should be written up (about 2-3 pages, on a word processor) and handed in at the end of the next class. You must use the following format:

First Heading: The Aim or Problem-Under this heading, state the problem being discussed (Limit=1/4 page).

Second Heading: Methods-Under this heading, write a paragraphing describing how the author went about solving the problem. If this is a critical review, state so and give the rationale and plan of the essay. If this is an empirical study, state so and summarize the research protocol. (Limit=1/2 page).

Third Heading: Results-If this is a critical essay, summarize the main points discussed-the basis for the conclusion. If this is an empirical study, summarize the empirical results. Results are the actual findings, e.g., group A scored higher on measure EX than Group B (Limit-3/4 page)

Fourth Heading: Conclusions--Summarize the conclusions. Conclusions are not the same as results. They are the way results are interpreted by the authors or the inferences the authors draw from the results the results, e.g., Animals living in type A groups are more EX-y than animals living in type B groups . (Limit-1/2 page)

Fifth Heading: Speculations-Summarize any speculations the author makes. What do the authors think the conclusions imply about larger issues in behavior? (Limit-1/4 page)

Sixth Heading: Your Evaluation-This is where your opinions come in. Evaluate the appropriateness of the methods and conclusions. Did the conclusions follow from the results? Place the article in the larger context of the field of primate behavior. What does it contribute? What would you have done differently? What studies should be done next? (limit-3/4 page)

3. Exams: You will be required to take the in-class exams and quiz for APY 246. Each exam will count 15% of your grade. The quiz will count 10%. Tentative dates: Oct. 2, Nov. 4, and Dec. 4.

4. Each student will be required to give one or two guest lectures to the APY 246 class. Topics will be negotiated. You will need to turn in a lecture outline at least one week beforehand so that I can make suggestions. Immediately after your lecture, you will need to hand in a complete description of the contents of the lecture, so that there is a record of exactly what the other students should be responsible for in the exam.

Grading

Your grades will be based on the exams and quiz grades (40%), the written literature analyses (40%), your lecture(s) (10%), and class participation (10%).

Text

The text for this course and for APY 246 is: Primate Societies Edited by B Smuts et al. It is available from Talking Leaves Bookstore. The readings for analysis and discussion will be copied in the departmental office. You will be asked to pay the copying costs and to share the work.