WHO LET THE DOGS OUT?

As soon as I hear the phrase everybody knows, I start to wonder. I start asking, Does
everybody know this? And how do they know it?
~ David D. Jackson

Context and Relevance:

Humans are highly skilled at manipulating their environments. One example of this is
domesticating animals (such as dogs, cats, and livestock) that have been important for
companionship, labor, and food. Dogs and cats have taken a central role as companions. In
the US people own 94.2 million cats and 89.7 million dogs. Yet humans still have trouble
interpreting their behaviors towards us and to each other. The goal of this project is to
explore interactions between domesticated animals and humans.

Essential Question:
How to use research methodologies to ask a
specific question?
How has domestication affected
inter(between)-species interactions?

Project objectives:
Collaborate with your peers to develop and
refine your project
Communicate your findings to the public

Project tasks:
1. Pick a research question
2. Develop methods for analysis
3. Collect data
4. Analyze your results
5. Situate your findings within the scientific community
6. Present your discoveries during the humane society's fundraiser October 29th

Project skills:
Collaborate with peers
Critically apply research methodologies to test observations
Interpret your results and use evidence to make your own conclusions
Learn how to statistically analyze your results in google Sheets or R studio (R
Studio is a challenge)

Knowledge:
Research Methodologies
Mendelian Inheritance
o Genetics
o Punnett squares
Forces of Evolution
 Domestication

Possible Project Products:

Infographics to be presented at Humane Society fundraiser Bark and Wine
Website
Signs at the dog park
Signs for campgrounds or trailheads
If you have other great ideas for exhibition let me know!

Pick one book to read along with this research project*

The Horse an Epic History of our Nobel Companions
o https://www.amazon.com/Horse-Epic-History-Noble-Companion-
ebook/dp/B00UFVCHZK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503800571&sr=8-
1&keywords=the+horse+by+wendy+williams
o $9.99 for kindle or 11.60 for hardcover
How to Tame a Fox (and Build a Dog)
o https://www.amazon.com/How-Tame-Fox-Build-Dog-
ebook/dp/B06WWD9P7K/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=15
03773128&sr=1-1
o Kindle for $9 and hardcover for $20
Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior
$9 on amazon
o https://www.amazon.com/Animals-Translation-Mysteries-Behavior-
Harvest/dp/0156031442/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503773229&sr=8-
1&keywords=animals+in+translation
o $9 on Amazon
Manipulative Monkeys: The Capuchins of Lomas Barbudal
o https://www.amazon.com/Manipulative-Monkeys-Capuchins-Lomas-
Barbudal/dp/0674060385/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503773046&sr=8-
1&keywords=Manipulative+Monkeys%3A+The+Capuchins+of+Lomas+Barb
udal
o $20 on amazon
*If this is a financial burden for you let me know and we can figure out alternatives.
*If you have another book you would like to read that relates to research get it pre-approved.

Important steps and deadlines:

Task Description **Due Date
Pick a question Pick a question 9/15
Preliminary Hyp. & Pred Write out hypotheses, and predictions 9/15
Preliminary methods Turn in sampling methods 9/19
Peer reviewed methods Edit a peers methods 9/22
Final methods Revise with peer and my feedback 9/26
Data collections Start collecting data 9/26
Situate your research Conduct a literature review to place your research 10/2
within a broader context
Analysis Turn in data visuals (eg. graphs) 10/16
Draft of presentation Put it all together in an infographic, website, infosign 10/20
Peer edits 10/24
Exhibition! * You will present your results at the humane societys 10/29
fundraiser Bark & Wine*

*We can discuss alternate exhibitions that can happen during this week
Email me each assignment by the start of class. I will supplement each of these deadlines with guidelines on what
to turn in. ***Dates are subject to change***