The Perception of Danger Is an Important Characteristic for Survival

question 19

Essay

The perception of danger is an important characteristic for survival of animals. In a field experiment in Costa Rica, investigators located and directly approached black iguanas; that is, they walked straight towards them. Two treatments were randomly assigned to the individual iguanas. In one treatment the investigator gazed at the iguana while approaching, "maintaining eye contact." In a second treatment, the investigator did not gaze at the iguana while approaching. The outcome measure was the distance of the investigator from the iguana when it decided to run away. The researchers believe that eye contact is noticed by the iguana, leading to a longer approach distance. Data from this experiment appears in the table below. ​
a) Using a graphical display of your choosing, assess the assumption that the distributions of approach distances are approximately normal. State your conclusion in a few sentences.
b) Assuming that it is OK to proceed with a two-sample t procedure, determine if there is sufficient evidence to conclude that there is a shorter mean approach distance for the "Eye contact" group.
c) In a few sentences, state any concerns you have about your conclusions in part (b), based on your results from part (a). If you have no concerns, write "No concerns."

---

Definitions:

Long-Term Memories

Memories that can be retained for long periods, potentially a lifetime, including facts, experiences, and skills.

Emotional Expression

The way in which a person outwardly shows their emotional state, including through facial expressions, gestures, and speech.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter involved in many functions, including mood, sleep, learning, and the regulation of movement, often linked to the reward mechanism in the brain.

Schizophrenia

A mental disorder characterized by disturbances in thought, perception, and behavior, manifesting in symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized speech.