Welcome to the exciting field of animal behaviour! This course will introduce you to the broad and multidisciplinary nature of the study of behaviour.
You will first learn about the history of the study of behaviour, and differences in emphases between the fields of psychology and ethology (with particular reference to the learning process). Later, we will take an integrated approach to studying behaviour by using a framework of proximate (developmental and mechanistic) and ultimate (functional and phylogenetic) explanations. Fundamental processes influencing animal behaviour will be considered, including the relative contributions of evolutionary processes, genetics, the nervous system, learning, and the environment.
You will learn how to frame questions and hypotheses in the scientific investigation of behaviour, and will use basic techniques for describing and recording behavioural observations. You will discover potential applications of behavioural studies and enhance your understanding of sound experimental design. Such skills will be useful in a wide range of scientific and animal management careers.
Learning outcomes
- Discuss the multidisciplinary and philosophical origins of, and the importance of applying scientific methodology in the study of pure and applied animal behaviour;
- Develop proximate and ultimate hypotheses for the behaviour of animals;
- Present evidence for the effects of genetic and environmental factors on behaviour;
- Demonstrate knowledge of the body processes underpinning behaviour.
