Module ANTH3531: Understanding Behaviour

Department: Anthropology

ANTH3531: Understanding Behaviour

Prerequisites

• Our Place in Nature (ANTH2321) for 2014/15 only OR Human Ecology, Genetics & Health (ANTH2011) OR Evolutionary Anthropology (ANTH2061).

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To expose students to the principles and approaches to studying behaviour and its evolution, pertinent to a wide range of species, including a focus on humans.
• To develop in students a critical and up-to-date understanding of the effects of genes, behavioural development and learning on behaviour and its evolution, drawing on a wide range of species, including a focus on humans.
• To develop in students a critical and up-to-date understanding of key facets thought to underpin the evolution of human behaviour.
• To expose students to some of the current controversies and methodological issues affecting research in the field of behaviour, pertinent to the study of non-human animals and humans.

Content

• This module will:
• 1. Critically evaluate the principles and approaches (biological and psychological) to studying behaviour and its evolution, pertinent to a wide range of species, and including a focus on humans (including evolutionary psychology, behavioural ecology, gene-culture coevolution and cultural evolution).
• Critically evaluate the effect of genes, behavioural development and learning on behaviour and its evolution.
• Examine, in both human and non-human animals, some key facets throught to underpin the evolution of human behaviour, including cumulative cultural evolution, co-operation, language and intelligence.
• Critically evaluate current controversies and methodological issues affecting research in the field of behaviour (e.g. adaptationism, group selection, ethics - note, topics will depend on current debates in the literature).

Learning Outcomes

• Students should be able to demonstrate that they are familiar with current theory and a range of case studies relating to the principles and approaches (biological and psychological) to studying behaviour in non-human animals and humans.
• Students should be able to demonstrate that they are familiar with current theory and a range of empirical examples relating to the effects of genes, behavioural development and learning on behaviour and its evolution.
• Students should be able to demonstrate that they are familiar with current theory and a range of case studies relating to key facets thought to underpin the evolution of human behaviour.
• Students should be able to demonstrate that they are familiar with current debates and empirical evidence pertaining to controversies and methodological issues affecting research in the field of behaviour.

• Ability to understand and critically evaluate experimental and theoretical studies and their application to understanding behaviour.

• Ability to interpret evidence and the role it plays in a scientific argument.
• Ability to extract, compile, review and evaluate relevant scientific information from various sources.
• Ability to defend a certain scientific position in a group discussion.
• Ability to structure and communicate ideas effectively both in writing and orally.
• Ability to write Wiki pages.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Teaching will be via a mixture of lecture-style and student-led group discussions, requiring students to discuss and evaluate scientific papers. This combination of approaches will allow both learning and assessment of more factual/declarative knowledge of the subject material, as well as the development of insight into methodological requirements.
• Formative assessment will take the form of one 800 word essay/discussion paper derived from student-led discussion. Formative feedback will be given in response to the essay and, in addition, during discussion periods.
• Summative assessment will be via 3 essays in which students will be expected to synthesise and evaluate material based on several of the lectures and seminars. Students will also be assessed on contributions to a Wiki where, drawing on the research literature and online science media, students will be expected to add, summarise, evaluate and add links for new content into the module Wiki.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

One 800 word essay/discussion paper.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University