Methods/Application
How did the scientists determine whether a behavior was submissive or dominant outside of play?
Coding behaviors.
According to the 50/50 rule, does the dominance relationship outside of play have an impact on the win/loss ratio in play?
No.
Why do some primate species perform self-handicapping behaviors during play?
To increase the chance of playing again in the future.
List at least two offensive behaviors the researchers were looking for during wolf play.
Any two of the following: site shake, play bite, chase/charge, chin over, paw on, forced down, mount (push/tackle), muzzle bite, over, over during downs.
What is one of the issues with the methods used by the researchers?
One of the following: Small sample size, small increment of time for recording, sometimes recording didn't start until play had already been engaged.
In the play observed in wolves, did the win ratio have any impact on the duration of play?
No.
Did the researchers think the 50/50 rule would apply to the wolves? Were they right?
They thought it would not apply, and they were correct.
List at least two self-handicapping behaviors the researchers were looking for during wolf play.
Any two of the following: Muzzle lick, receive genital sniff, voluntary down, unknown down.
List at least two ways that the methods used in the study can be applied to our Vex IQ experiments.
Any two of the following: Coding behaviors, populating test areas with different objects, making inferences based on frequency and consistency of behaviors, using other sources to find out what may explain the behaviors, and hypothesizing on what may occur in different situations.
Why did the researchers think the wolves would or would not display the 50/50 rule?
They thought they would not since dogs don’t. However, they experimented to find out because wolves are more cooperative than dogs outside of play, which indicated they might follow the 50/50 rule.
Name and explain the alternative rule to the 50/50 rule that dogs follow.
Display of Dominance - The player with the advantage will continue winning to continue to display dominance.
List at least 4 out-of-play behaviors, and label them as submissive or dominant.
Submissive: Stand Tall, Stand Over, No-Play Paw On, Ride Up, No-Play Muzzle Bite.
Dominant: Crouch, Passive Submission, Active Submission, Withdrawing, Flee, Avoidance.