Objective: To further develop animal observational research skills, integrate original research findings with existing knowledge, and compose a scientific report (using APA style) to communicate those findings. To practice incorporating and applying comments on previous assignments to improve writing quality and critical thinking skills.
Instructions: As in the first project, you will conduct an animal observation using an ethogram that you develop. If it safe to do so, I highly encourage you to visit a nearby zoo (Turtleback Zoo, Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo) or aquarium (New York Aquarium, Adventure Aquarium in Camden) to conduct this observation. Again, your safety is paramount here, so please feel free to conduct the observation remotely from an online webcam. The only restriction is that you may not observe the same species as you did for Assignment 1 or Project 1.
Your observation should be conducted for a minimum of 30 minutes. You must be especially careful not to disturb the animals in any way and disrupt their normal behaviors. Do not bang on cages, aquarium, etc. For all observations make sure you define the behaviors carefully and do not anthropomorphize. If you see aggression, be as specific as possible – say biting, etc. The behaviors you are most likely to observe are: grooming, feeding, moving, exploring, contact with a conspecific or other animal (including humans), vocalizations, displays.
Your observation will be written as an APA-style research report that follows the template provided below.
Title Page
Provide an APA-format title page.
Method
Subjects
Your subject(s) can be any animal species. Please provide both the common name and Latin name of the animal you observe. If you know sex/age, include that information. If possible, include a photo as a Figure.
Procedure
Provide relevant detail about how you conducted the observation so that someone who was not with you could replicate your observation exactly the way you did it. State where and when you did the observation. Mention the location, date, time of day, temperature and weather if outdoors and lighting if indoors. Tell which observational method (duration or frequency) you used. List and define all observed behaviors in this section.
Results
Summarize what you observed. You should include a graph summarizing the behaviors recorded as a Figure. Use the templates provided on Blackboard.
Discussion
Write a final paragraph of three to four sentences relating what you saw to some principle in your text or lectures. Find and discuss your results in the context of at least two reputable sources (you may use your textbook as one of the sources). Make sure to cite information, paraphrasing instead of quoting. Based on your observation, propose a research hypothesis for future research.
References
Start on a new page. Provide all references in APA-format.
Figures and Captions
List each Figure on a separate page. Include an APA-format caption with each figure.
For project 1 I observed a gibbon and squirrel. Please observe a penguin.
