To study animal behavior, scientists utilize proximate explanations which focuses understanding on immediate causes of behavior, and ultimate explanations which focuses on evolutionary causes. Tinbergen posed four questions that focus on proximate and ultimate explanations: What mechanism caused the behavior?, How does the behavior develop?, What is the function of the behavior?, and How did the behavior develop? Methods to study behavior include observational, experimental, and comparative methods. Observational methods involve observing and recording behavior without manipulating the environment or animals. Experimental method involves manipulating a variable to examine how it affects the behavior of the animal and utilizes independent variable, dependent variable, and a control group. Comparative method compares behaviors between species to understand evolution of behaviors. This method uses phylogeny, diagrams indicating evolutionary ancestor descendent relationships, and sister species. In phylogeny, ancestral traits, found in a common ancestor, and derived traits, common in more recently evolved species, are observed by researchers. Scientists used comparative psychology, the study of animal behavior in a comparative manner across a species, to understand human minds. It includes behaviorism that studies behavior independent of animal consciousness. Lastly ethical animal use revolves around replacement, reduction, and refinement.
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Animal Behavior 
I like how you use short and concise wording in your abstract, however, be careful on you verb tenses! Also, you could stand to elaborate a bit more on the ethical procedures this chapter talked about.
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I like how much you were able to cover of the book’s chapter, this is essentially what we needed to learn. One thing that could be added, past the 200 word limit is a longer explanation of the ethical use of animals with reduction, replacement, and refinement.
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I think this is very well structured and organized! You seemed to have hit each main topic as well as make a brief explanation for those topics.
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I agree with Stephanie. It’s hard to fit an entire chapter of information in 200 words, but the main points were touched and explained quite well! If we had to disregard the 200 word limit, I think providing the examples of each research method would help clarify any confusion (if present).
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I like how thorough you were able to be with your abstract, despite having the word limit. You were able to define key terms and concepts without having to leave out important details.
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I think you explained all of the major parts of the chapter very well, my only suggestion is to add some more information about the three R’s, reduction, replacement, and refinement!
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I’m glad you included the different variables required for the experimental methods and Tinbergen’s four questions. It gives a little more depth to the abstract. I don’t think this abstract is missing anything.
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I like how concise this is. I would discuss some of the other ways of looking at animal behavior, rather than just comparative psychology, such as classical ethology or behaviorism
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