Sample interview questions: How do you approach the study of animal behavior in the context of social dominance and aggression?
Sample answer:
1. Establish Ethological Context:
- Observe animals in their natural or semi-natural environments to understand their social structure and interactions.
- Determine the factors influencing social dominance, such as age, sex, size, resource availability, and genetic characteristics.
2. Use Observational Methods:
- Employ systematic observation techniques, such as scan sampling, focal animal sampling, and behavior mapping.
- Record and quantify behaviors related to dominance and aggression (e.g., displays, threats, attacks, submissions).
- Use statistical analyses to identify patterns and correlations in behavioral data.
3. Conduct Experiments:
- Design experiments to manipulate potential causal factors (e.g., resource availability, group composition).
- Observe the impact of these manipulations on social dominance and aggression.
- Control for confounding variables and ensure sample sizes are sufficient for statistical power.
4. Measure Physiological Responses:
- Monitor physiological indicators of dominance and aggression, such as heart rate, cortisol levels, and brain activity.
- Use these measures to provide insights into the underlying mec… Read full answer