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6.1: Watching Primates

  • Page ID
    138528
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    A detailed illustration of a chimpanzee sitting on a branch, with a thoughtful expression.
    Primates exhibit complex behavior that can be interpreted through careful observation. SVG SILH. (n.d.). animal gorilla ape [Illustration]. Retrieved from https://svgsilh.com/image/37835.html. Used under Creative Commons 0: Public Domain Dedication.
    • Format: Online
    • Author: Dr. Keith Chan
    • Time needed: 45 minutes

    Supplies Needed

    Readings

    • Jaffe, Karin Enstam. 2019. Chapter 6: Primate Ecology and Behavior. Explorations.

    Introduction

    This assignment has three parts that follow the scientific method: 1. Prepare for the observation; 2. Observe primates in videos; 3. Report the findings.

    Steps

    1. Students should work individually but can compare their observations and findings at the conclusion of the assignment.
    2. In class (or online), the instructor should go over Part 1 to make sure that students are adequately prepared to move to Part 2. Instructors and students may choose to brainstorm more behaviors to add to the ethogram.
    3. Part 2 is intended for students to do on their own at home, although it can be adapted for an in-person lab.
    4. Part 3 is also intended for homework as it involves independent report writing.
    5. After the activity, the instructor can lead a discussion on what the students experienced and what they learned about primate behavior.

    Review Questions

    The activity gives students experience observing animal behavior and recording data scientifically. Here are some questions for discussion after the activity:

    1. What were some behaviors that surprised the students?
    2. What challenges arose during the observation?
    3. Did all students observe the same things from the same video or did some students observe different things? Why would different observations occur?
    4. What are some benefits and drawbacks of scan sampling versus focal sampling?

    Adapting for Online Learning

    If this is an in-person lab, rank how adaptable to online learning it is (mark in bold): Easy to adapt.

    If applicable, include suggestions for how to adapt this lab for online learning: Students could watch the videos and complete the observation tables online. Instructors could set up an online discussion for students to share their results and comment on their classmates’ results.

    Tips and Suggestions

    Personalize this activity with your own recorded videos or use of a livestream.

    References

    1. Jaffe, Karin Enstam. 2019. “Chapter 6: Primate Ecology and Behavior.” Explorations: An Open Invitation to Biological Anthropology, edited by Beth Shook, Katie Nelson, Kelsie Aguilera, and Lara Braff. Arlington, VA: American Anthropological Association. http://explorations.americananthro.org/

    This page titled 6.1: Watching Primates was last modified on Fri, 03 Jul 2026 04:40:00 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Keith Chan via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.