Biology of Politics Assignment

A useful skill in studying scientific fields of any kind (whether it is biology, psychology, political science, etc.) is the ability to read a scientific article and take away the important components of the study and results. The media often reports on new scientific findings but these reports are not always particularly accurate or helpful. Being able to go to the source and consider the study for yourself is an important tool for scientists and laypeople alike.

For this assignment, you will summarize a scientific article in 2-3 (double-spaced) pages. Your summary should include study rationale, the hypothesis, important methodological details, the results, and a short discussion of implications, including a potential future direction for study.

Brosnan, S.F., Freeman, C., & de Waal, F.B.M. (2006). Partner's behavior, not reward distribution, determines success in an unequal cooperative task in capuchin monkeys. American Journal of Primatology, 68, 713-724.

Questions you should seek to answer in your paper:

1) What is the research question?

2) What is the hypothesis?

3) Who are the study subjects? (And how many?)

4) What is the study design? What methodology is used?

a. What is/are the independent variable(s)?

b. What is/are the dependent variable(s)?

5) What is the main finding?

6) What do the authors conclude we can infer from the results?

7) What is a limitation of this study?

a. How might this limitation be addressed in a future study?