Field experiments with non-human primates: A tutorial

摘要: INTRODUCTION Field experiments are a powerful way of investigating the mechanisms primate behaviour, their adaptive functions, and cognitive forces responsible for them. They have several major advantages over observational data. First, they can reduce ambiguity about causal relationship between stimuli behavioural responses; second, allow systematic investigations even rare events; third, test hypotheses more directly by systematically controlling confounding variables. Although data sometimes achieve same results, typically require complicated statistical procedures observation effort. contribute to range scientific disciplines, but been used most extensively psychologists interested in mind, ecologists working on anti-predator anthropologists dealing with proto-human behaviour culture. In this chapter, we begin brief overview main methods fieldwork. We then discuss number commonly experimental designs stimuli, as well some further techniques considerable potential work wild primates conclude drawing attention common problems pitfalls. OBSERVATIONAL METHODS profound understanding causes consequences behaviours under study, should always be final step research programme based lengthy, detailed careful observations. Without such knowledge, there is danger misinterpretation, inadequate design meaningless findings.