3 ARTICLES FOCUSING ON ASPECTS OF ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
ARTICLE #1
Crows Clever Enough to Learn a Shell Game
DESCRIPTION
This is a fascinating article that examines how and whether crows can learn the “shell game.” If a treat is placed in one of three covered bowls while the crow watches, the crow will choose the correct bowl. However, if the treat is put in one bowl and then moved to another with the crow watching, it will choose at random; this is known as the A-Not-B test. Primates and animals with larger brains (except the elephant) can do very well on this test. The researchers reasoned that if they trained the crow to watch the hands move, then the crows would be able to find the treat. In fact the crows did. The article also includes a brief video of the crows doing this and other tasks.
SOURCE
New York Times, ScienceTake, February 29, 2016, by James Gorman
LINK TO RESOURCE
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/29/science/crows-clever-enough-to-learn-a-shell-game.html
(Tiny URL) http://tinyurl.com/jgjgvy7
(click on link to view video)
ARTICLE #2
Turning Your Pet Into a Therapy Dog
DESCRIPTION
Jane Brody, the noted Health and Science writer in the NY Times, wrote an article that discusses the use of animals as in therapeutic settings as well as experiences with her own dog Max. “Pet therapy most often involves privately owned animals – usually dogs, but also cats, rabbits, even kangaroos, birds, fish and reptiles – that their owners take to facilities to enhance the well-being of temporary or permanent residents.” She provides a variety of scenarios from nursing homes, pediatric wards, prison, veterans hospital groups and so on to provide examples of how pet therapy is helpful. A very interesting read and most likely a fun discussion.
SOURCE
New York Times, February 29, 2016, by Jane Brody
LINK TO RESOURCE
(Tiny Url) http://tinyurl.com/jbnw2nv
ARTICLE #3
Frans de Waal TED TALK: Moral behavior in animals
DESCRIPTION
From the TED site:
“What happens when two monkeys are paid unequally? Fairness, reciprocity, empathy, cooperation — caring about the well-being of others seems like a very human trait. But Frans de Waal shares some surprising videos of behavioral tests, on primates and other mammals, that show how many of these moral traits all of us share.”
This is a fabulous video talk (17 minutes) that will stimulate discussion and delight and engage your students!
SOURCE
Ted Talk November 2011
(Tiny URL) http://tinyurl.com/jzmr3kx
CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
•What is the value of animal research in the field of Psychology?
•Can the results of animal research be generalized to humans?
•What are the advantages and disadvantages of using animals to studying basic processes in humans?
•Ask the students: How would they apply the results of animal research to humans?
•What are the ethical concerns of using animals for research?
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