Legendary primatologist Jane Goodall revolutionized the study of chimpanzees during her fieldwork in Gombe, Tanzania. The behaviors she witnessed changed our perception of apes from instinct-driven creatures to tool-inventing beings. This activity will help you learn how to collect
Activity summary
In this activity, you will learn about ethology, or how researchers turn observations of living things into scientific data, and then create a report or a video/audio analyzing what you saw. While we cannot go to Gombe on short notice, we can watch uncut videos of zoo-dwelling primates online and apply scientific techniques to go beyond what a typical zoo visitor sees.
There are different ways to collect data on animal behavior. We will be practicing scan sampling whereby the observer records the behaviors of the group at set intervals. By contrast, focal sampling involves recording every action of one specific individual over a length of time. After your observation, you will write a 500-word reflective report to present your findings (or create a 3-5 minute video or audio).
Part A: Preparation
Before watching primates, you have to prepare for what you expect to see to save time and effort later when you are intently focused on your living subjects.
First, pick one of the videos to observe from the Primate Observation Playlist
Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqGjS-l4Roj9P6H_BCXyRCEUJUo4SB0wV&si=YYfkNai6LmpTZyvm
Answer these two questions:
Which video and which primate will you observe (focus on one individual)?
Apply the scientific method and make a prediction about what you will see. Answer the following question: Which behaviors do you think you will see when watching the primate for 15 minutes?
Part B: Field Log Worksheet
When anthropologists do fieldwork they keep a fieldwork log to help them contextualize the data they collect. Use the attached Fieldwork Task 3 Log Worksheet to help you understand your observations and prepare you for your reflection.
Part C: Reflection
Return home and write a 500-word reflective report on your research (or make your response a video or podcast-style audio of 3-5 minutes). In the report, give specifics of what you witnessed, and analyze how you personally responded to different cultures or mannerisms. About two-thirds of the report should be ethnographic reporting, and one-third should be analysis.
Try to eliminate your personal bias or admit when you have one, and identify when you are basing your analysis on personal opinions.
Pay attention to the need to maintain the anonymity of your subjects as if this were an actual anthropology fieldwork assignment. Do not identify people by name; instead, use pseudonyms.
