Comparative psychologista work in a lab setting with controlled experiments. They are interested in the “how’s” of learning, in other words, proximate questions based on the genetics and development which influence behavior in animals. The type of experiment they would conduct involves rats and pigeons in the lab by testing their learning abilities.
Ethologists work in field settings observing nature. They are interested in the evolutionary history and the “why’s” of behavior, in other words, ultimate questions wondering about their evolutionary history and adaptive value. An experiment they might conduct would include observing why spiders live in groups and attempting to understand the value of that behavior.
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