The Teaching of Comparative Psychology: Exercises, Experiences, and Philosophy: An Introduction to the Special Issue

Abstract

This special issue of the International Journal of Comparative Psychology is devoted to the teaching of comparative psychology. The 12 papers in this issue represent a wide range of activities and collectively provide the teacher of comparative psychology with over 50 inquiry-based activities. These activities include a variety of animal demonstrations using both vertebrates and invertebrates and those related to teaching the history of comparative psychology. To help increase interest in comparative psychology within a psychology department, there is a paper describing how aspects of clinical psychology can be incorporated into a course on comparative psychology. Teachers of comparative psychology will also find a paper on how the oriental art of origami can help students understand aspects of evolution. For teachers of comparative psychology that wish to incorporate behavioral technology into their classrooms, there are papers that describe how to construct low-cost animal robots and to incorporate 3D printers, respectively. The issue closes with a paper on how to teach behavioral observation techniques.

Why the study of comparative psychology is important to neuroscientists

“…The remaining 12 articles in that special issue focus on methodology, applied aspects, and teaching, respectively ( Abramson and Hill, 2018 ). In addition, there is a companion issue solely dedicated to the teaching of CP ( Abramson, 2020 ). The 12 articles in that special issue describes over 50 inquiry-based activities.…”

The Role of Comparative Psychology in the Training of Veterinarians

“…The activities range from experiments on basic conditioning to the construction of ethograms. Of particular interest are papers describing how to construct apparatus using 3D printers, and how to construct low-cost robotic animals [11].…”