Sarringhaus LA, McGrew WC, Marchant LF "Misuse of anecdotes in primatology: Lessons from citation analysis " American Journal of Primatology 65 (3): 283-288 MAR 2005

[Richard Thornley]

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Subject: [SIGMETRICS] Sarringhaus LA, McGrew WC, Marchant LF "Misuse of
anecdotes in primatology: Lessons from citation analysis " American
Journal of Primatology 65 (3): 283-288 MAR 2005



E-mail Addresses: W.C. McGrew : mcgrewwc at muohio.edu


Title: Misuse of anecdotes in primatology: Lessons from citation
analysis

Author(s): Sarringhaus LA, McGrew WC, Marchant LF

Source: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY 65 (3): 283-288 MAR 2005

Document Type: Article    Language: English
Cited References: 21      Times Cited: 0

Abstract:
This study analyzes the accuracy of anecdotes cited in behavioral
primatology publications. Anecdotes (n = 1 cases) recounting tool use
were sought in the four main primatological journals. Citations of
anecdotes in the scientific literature that met three criteria were
systematically coded for recognition and accuracy. The results showed
that 60% of the time, authors who cited anecdotes did not explicitly
acknowledge them as such. To a lesser extent, the citations exaggerated
the frequency of anecdotal events or misrepresented their status. For
tool use specifically, the actor was misreported more often than the
tool or its target. Multiple citations were incorrect more often than
single citations. Overall, it seems that citation of anecdotes is
problematic and may have far-reaching implications in terms of
misleading overgeneralizations. Primatologists should take care in
citing singular or rare events. (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Addresses: McGrew WC (reprint author), Miami Univ, Dept Anthropol, 70
Upham Hall, Oxford, OH 45056 USA Miami Univ, Dept Anthropol, Oxford, OH
45056 USA Miami Univ, Dept Zool, Oxford, OH 45056 USA

E-mail Addresses: mcgrewwc at muohio.edu

Publisher: WILEY-LISS, DIV JOHN WILEY & SONS INC, 111 RIVER ST, HOBOKEN,
NJ 07030 USA Subject Category: ZOOLOGY IDS Number: 916TC

ISSN: 0275-2565

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