In Many Animal Societies, a Role Assumed by the Adult

Essay

In many animal societies, a role assumed by the adult male is a sentry, warning adult females and juveniles of approaching predators. Some students of animal behavior believe that in human society this role is active also. An interesting variation of this theory is that the human female accepts this role. In one 4-month study in Seattle, an investigator observed people crossing the street at an intersection with no traffic control. The observed behavior was the scanning behavior ("looking both ways") of adult males and females. The investigator reasoned that if the adult female accepted the protection of the adult male, the scanning rate when alone would be greater than when accompanied by an adult female. Data from this study is given below. Do these data support the investigator's hypothesis that the female scanning rate would be less when accompanied by a male? Assume that it is reasonable to regard these samples as representative of the corresponding populations. Provide statistical justification for your answer.