Anthropology Discussion 4

Ape Genius || student Handout Studying Apes and Humans © 2008 WGBH Educational Foundation Team Assignment Experiment/Field Observation Research Question(s)subject A m echanical Aptitude chimpanzees in Fongoli, Senegal Is ape making tool? chimps peanut placed in clear tube Can ape get peanut? chimps B Imitation grape in slot machine Can apes from the same troop learn from another ape? From watching an ape from a rival group? chimps treat in opaque puzzle box, then in see-through box Will ape and human copy actions to get treat? chimps/humans C Cooperation food hidden under heavy stone Can apes cooperate with apes, or with humans, to get food? chimps food is placed on tray with rope attached to pull it in Can apes cooperate to get food?

chimps food placed in central box Will apes cooperate and split food? bonobos d social Emotions treats dispensed on table; rope can be pulled to end experiment Will ape choose to end experiment?

chimps young ape dies Will apes help others despite big risk? bonobos candy is placed in two dishes Which dish will ape choose? chimps candy placed in two dishes Will children wait to get more candy? humans E m ath/symbol skills numerals displayed on screen Could chimp count? chimps symbols are placed in two dishes Which dish will ape choose? chimps bonobos follow verbal instructions Can apes communicate? bonobos F Communication treat under a cup Will child or chimp know where treat is if pointed to? humans/ bonobos child and parent watching puppet show Will child understand what pointing means? humans ball moved from one bag to another Will child be able to infer when someone else will or will not know the ball has been moved? chimps/humans experimenter shows he wants to steal food Will chimp take into account what the researcher knows? chimps