Animal Behavior (PSYC 220) Fall 2011 Instructor

Animal Behavior
(PSYC 220)
Fall 2011
Instructor
Matthew Campolattaro, PhD
Dewey Hall 304
Office Hours: TBA; By Appointment
Office Phone: 656-4705
E-mail: [email protected]
Meeting Time & Location
TTH, 4:00-5:15pm
A202 Old Mill Annex
Prerequisites
Psychology Research Methods I (PSYC 109) or Ecology and Evolution (BCOR 102)
Course Description
This course will review many of the fundamental concepts, facts and methodologies related to the
study of animal behavior. Discussion will include topics on evolution, development, function and
control of behavior heavily integrated with information obtained through laboratory and field-based
research.
General structure of the class
Lectures will cover important topics in the textbook and supplementary information. Four times
during the semester we will discuss assigned articles. My role will be to guide and shape the
discussion, but I expect students to take an active role in posing and answering questions.
Blackboard Information
I will be using Blackboard to manage the course. The syllabus and basic information regarding the
semester plan will be available online. In addition, the supplemental articles will be available.
PowerPoint overheads will be made available the evening before each lecture.
Textbook
John Alcock (2009). Animal Behavior, 9th Edition. Sinauer
Discussion Articles (Will be available on the class Blackboard site)
You will be required to turn in a brief written summary of each paper = 1 page single-spaced 10 or
12 point font.
Topic: Animal Minds (note: summarize both articles in one brief written summary)
#1: Blumberg, M. and Wasserman, E. A. (1995). Animal mind and the argument from design.
American Psychologist, 50, 133-144.
#2: Griffin, D. R (1984). Animal Thinking (reprint with permission), pp. 58-66.
Topic: Sleep
#3: Siegel, J. M. (2003). Why we sleep. Scientific American, 289, 92-97.
Topic: Same-Sex Sexual Behavior
#5: Bailey, N.W. and Zuk, M. (2009). Same-sex sexual behavior and evolution. Trends in Ecology
and Evolution. 24, 439-446.
Topic: TBA
Exams
Exam format generally will be multiple-choice and short answer. Exams will cover lectures,
textbook, article and discussion material. Exams are not cumulative in content per se, but may be
cumulative conceptually. Make-up exams must be arranged with the instructor at least 48 hours
prior to the exam. In the event of an illness, make-up exams will be administered only if a medical
excuse is provided by the Dean’s office. If you have a medical condition that may interfere with
taking an exam sometime in the semester, you must contact me in the first week of class to discuss
it.
Term Paper
A term paper topic of your choice will be due Oct 4. This can be on any topic NOT extensively
covered in class or in the text and must be approved by me. Papers must be written in APA citation
and reference format and cover the topic in a comprehensive manner. (Minimum: 8 pages, double
space, 1" margin). You may use some information from the Web but for substantive information
you MUST use research material from standard scientific journals and texts. Be sure to reference all
sources cited in the paper (minimum 8 references). You must include references from both
laboratory and field studies. Final term paper due Dec 1.
Points (out of 120 points total) will be awarded based on the following criteria:
1. Quality and organization of your paper – 40pts
2. Understanding of the topic – 50 pts
3. Critical review and future directions– 30 pts
Late Policy
Late assignments will be accepted, however you will automatically lose 10% each day that the
assignment is late. After 5 days late your assignment will continue to be worth up to half credit.
Course Grading
Exam 1 - 22%
Exam 2 - 22%
Exam 3 - 22%
Term Paper – 20%
Brief Article Summaries - 10%
Class Participation - 4%
Attendance and Class Etiquette
Attendance of lectures is highly encouraged, since I will often discuss material that is not in the
textbook. Please turn cell phones off or to silent mode and do not use text messaging or email
during class. This behavior is rude and distracting to me.
Student Learning Accommodations
If you have a formal accommodation plan developed in conjunction with UVMs ACCESS Office or
would like to discuss the supports that you need in order to learn well in this class, please contact
me in the beginning of the semester. Adaptations and instructional supports are available through
consultation with the instructor and the ACCESS Office.
ACCESS Office: www.uvm.edu/~access/
UVM’s policy on disability certification and student support:
www.uvm.edu/~uvmppg/ppg/student/disability.pdf
Religious Holidays
Students have the right to practice the religion of their choice. If you need to miss class to observe a
religious holiday, please submit the dates of your absence to me in writing by the end of the second
full week of classes. You will be permitted to make up work within a mutually agreed-upon time.
Academic Integrity
The policy addresses plagiarism, fabrication, collusion, and cheating.
www.uvm.edu/~uvmppg/ppg/student/acadintegrity.pdf
Grade Appeals
If you would like to contest a grade, please follow the procedures outlined in this policy:
www.uvm.edu/~uvmppg/ppg/student/gradeappeals.pdf
Grading
For information on grading and GPA calculation, go to www.uvm.edu/academics/catalogue and
click on Policies for an A-Z listing.
Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities
www.uvm.edu/~uvmppg/ppg/student/studentcode.pdf
FERPA Rights Disclosure
The purpose of this policy is to communicate the rights of students regarding access to, and privacy
of their student educational records as provided for in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy
Act (FERPA) of 1974. http://www.uvm.edu/~uvmppg/ppg/student/ferpa.pdf
Final exam policy
The University final exam policy outlines expectations during final exams and explains timing and
process of examination period. www.uvm.edu/academics/catalogue200708/?Page=allpolicies.php&SM=policymenu.html&policy=Examinations
Class Schedule
Every effort will be made to stay on schedule
Week
Dates
Topics
Readings
Assignments
1
Aug 30
Sep 2
Course Introduction and Overview
Perspective
None
Chapter 1
2
Sep 6
Sep 8
Approaches and Methods
Evolution and Natural Selection
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
3
Sep 13
Sep 15
Development of Behavior
Development of Behavior
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
4
Sep 20
Sep 22
Discussion (Animal Minds)
Learning and Cognition
Articles 1 & 2
Chapter 3
5
Sep 27
Sep 29
Learning and Cognition
Physiological Processes: Neurological
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
6
Oct 4
Oct 6
Navigation
Exam I
Chapter 4
None
7
Oct 11
Oct 13
Physiological Processes: Hormonal
Biological Clocks
Chapter 5
Chapter 5
8
Oct 18
Oct 20
Discussion (Sleep)
Survival
Article 3
Chapter 6
9
Oct 25
Oct 27
Feeding
Reproductive Behavior (Video)
Chapter 7
Chapter 10
10
Nov 1
Nov 3
Reproductive Behavior
Parenting
Chapter 10
Chapter 12
11
Nov 8
Nov 10
Exam II
Mating Systems
None
Chapter 11
12
Nov 15
Nov 17
Discussion (Same-Sex Sexual Behavior)
Communication Video
Article 4
Chapter 9
13
Nov 22
Nov 24
No Class: Thanksgiving Recess!
No Class: Thanksgiving Recess!
None
None
14
Nov 29
Dec 1
Communication
Conflict
Chapter 9
Chapter 13-14
*Term Paper Due
15
Dec 6
Dec 8
Cooperation and Compromise
Discussion (TBA) & Course Wrap-up
Chapter 13-14
Article 5
*Brief Summary Due
*Brief Summary Due
*Paper Topic Due
*Brief Summary Due
*Brief Summary Due
FINAL EXAM (= Exam III): December 13 (Tuesday), 4:30pm in A202 Old Mill Annex