Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

none

Co Requisite Comment

Students wishing to graduate with MRes in Animal Behaviour (Programme 4825F) or the MRes in Evolution and Human Behaviour (Programme 4832F) are required to undertake MMB8003. All other MRes students can enroll on this module.

Aims

This module aims to provide a thorough training in the skills and concepts required for the study of behaviour from a biological perspective. The concepts taught are equally applicable to students whose main interests are in human behaviour, and those whose main interests are in the behaviour of non-human animals. The module will also be of benefit to students who are likely to conduct behavioural assays with laboratory animals in the course of medical research. Students will gain an understanding of current research practices in behavioural science. They will also acquire skills in the recording and quantification of spontaneously occurring behaviour, the analysis of behavioural data and the design and conduct of behavioural experiments, and working with laboratory animals. the value of adopting transparent and repeatable Open Science practices is stressed throughout.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module consists of three main blocks of material. Each of these is taught through discursive, problem-based session with an emphasis on students and staff developing solutions to how they would approach given research problems.

Block 1. Measuring behaviour

This block deals with how we can measure and quantify behaviour. Students will be introduced to the major types of behavioural sampling and coding, including the use of technology to capture and record behaviour. Students will put some of the principles to use in Report 1.

Block 2. Experimental design for behaviour

In this block, we will explore different ways to address questions of animal behaviour under controlled conditions. This includes studies of animals in the laboratory, but also experimental manipulations of animals under more natural conditions. The teaching sessions will be interactive discussions between the students and the lecturer, exploring the issues involved in conducting experiments aimed at better understanding the mechanisms underlying a range of categories of behaviour. Report 2 will apply these skills in coming up with an experimental design (and explanation of its rationale) for a given research question.

Block 3. Analysing behavioural data

This block will look at how we analyse the data arising from behavioural studies, and how we relate empirical findings to theoretical predictions and interpret them. Practical examples will be drawn from the exercises completed in the other blocks. Students will be introduced to the R language for dealing with and plotting data. Report 2 will use skills from this block as well as block 1.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• discuss the conceptual foundations of modern behavioural science

• discuss different research techniques that are applied to the study of behaviour

• give a detailed discussion of key aspects of the current literature; for example, Tinbergen’s four questions

• discuss different ways in which behaviour is measured and how this relates to the broader areas of contemporary life sciences

• design and plan a behavioural study

• understand how to visualise and analyse the data from a behavioural study

Intended Skill Outcomes

By the end of the module, students will be able to:

• critique relevant literature in behavioural science

• write and modify simple R scripts

• design, perform and write up a pilot study involving measurement of human or animal behaviour

• conduct a risk assessment for a field study

• devise a coding scheme for the measurement of spontaneous behaviour

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The emphasis on practical exercises and discussions reflects the desirability at MRes level of imparting research skills rather than just knowledge of the literature. By intertwining the knowledge and skills components, we hope to engage students more deeply with a critical understanding of how the data in influential published studies are actually generated, and how the research question influences the choice of method.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The reports focus on the practical, skills-based philosophy of the module. In Report 1, students will demonstrate that they understand how to measure behaviour and how to present the analyses. In Report 2, we will assess the key skills of generating an experimental design, with rationale for the decisions involved. These two assessments both cover the key objectives of the module, and prepare MRes students for their project.

General Notes

N/A