Evolutionary

Evolutionary

1. ILOs

   • evolutionary principles
     • natural selection
     • sexual selection
     • inclusive fitness theory
     • parent-offspring conflict
     • optimal outbreeding theory
   • several evolutionary theories
     • testable predictions
   • critique experimental & non-experimental evidence

2. Past Exam Papers

   • May 2015
     • Discuss the pros and cons of cross-cultural studies testing for relationships between aspects of ecology (e.g. climate, parasite threat) and variation in human behaviour. How can we address the difficulties that arise when using this methodology?
     • Give an example of one research area where evolutionary theory has led to novel, testable predictions, and explain the relevant evidence.
     • Discuss the pros and cons of studies using “found data” (e.g. online pornography access, traditional recipe books). How can we address the difficulties that arise when using this methodology?
   • Dec 2015
     • A frequent criticism of evolutionary psychology is that evolutionary explanations are “just-so-stories”. Explain what this means, how it relates to other areas of psychology or biology, and what evidence you would use to address this claim.
     • Give an example of ONE research question in Evolutionary Psychology where several methods have been used to test hypotheses. Explain the relevant evidence and discuss how the methodologies complement each other.
     • George Williams warned that “Evolutionary adaptation is a special and onerous concept that should not be used unnecessarily, and an effect should not be called a function unless it is clearly produced by design and not by chance.” Discuss how this statement relates to studies testing evolutionary hypotheses.
   • PGT Conversion 2015
     • Why are multiple methods used to test research hypotheses? Discuss a research question where the existing method(s) could be supplemented by research using other methods.
     • What is wrong with the phrase "survival of the fittest"? Discuss pros and cons of different methods assessing fitness n relation to human behaviour.
     • Discuss a research finding we covered in class that you think is a "just-so story". Explain why you think this and discuss how you would address this problem in future studies.
   • Likely topics
     • Will not ask same question again >> NOT
       • archival
       • cross-cultural

3. Structure

   • 1 page: introduce topic, what question is about, where I'm going to take the answer
     • what topic is about
     • why important
   • several pages on studies in depth
   • 1 page: tying it together & explain how I answered question, make connections

4. what I have prepared

   • Evolutionary basics
   • Methods
   • Fathers
   • Foods