You will answer a series of questions. Please number each answer and reply in full sentences, with sufficient detail. Do not write more than 2 pages total.
Select two different primate species to compare. Spend at least 30 minutes watching a web cam of each primate’s exhibit, for a total of 1 hour of observations, split evenly between your two chosen species. Here are your choices, and yes, if you don’t see any animals interacting in one of these, I suggest finding a different cam or coming back later (feeding time is always good!):
1. Briefly describe the species you studied, the locations of the Zoo(s)/areas, and what time of day (at the site!) you did your observations.
2. Why did you choose to compare these two species? (e.g., “I chose to compare a spider monkeys, New World species and colobus monkeys, an Old World monkey species, because …”)
3. What social interactions did you observe for each species? Here you might wish to include chart with your data, or list, for example, how many aggressive touches between adult langurs you noted, and say, how this compared to a lack of similar aggressive touching by macaques. This should not be raw data, but an overall summary/assessment of the patterns you saw. This can be 1-2 paragraphs of writing, with or without a table or chart (optional).
4. What are the methodological questions primatologists should think about when collecting their data? (For example, what affected the way you carried out your research? What possible effects does captivity have?)
5. What is your thesis—what, overall, does the data suggest about these two different species and their social behavior? (THIS IS A SINGLE SENTENCE)
6. How far is it reasonable to make claims about humans based on what you learn about primates more generally?
7. How do you see the work of physical anthropology (of which primatology is a part) fitting with the work of sociocultural anthropology?
