Tinbergen's four questions

Tinbergen’s four questions represent different perspectives useful when studying behaviors.  These questions utilize historical and current perspectives, along with sequential and contemporary explanations.  While some may argue that the questions create dichotomies, they are intended to be used in together, in order to get a full explanation of behavior

Ultimate Questions

Tinbergen utilized two different ultimate categories which ask “why” questions, investigating an explanation of behavior utilizing evolutionary perspectives.  

Adaptive Value

Adaptive Value describes explanations about the current use or function of a behavior.  These explanations investigate how a behavior increases an animals fitness.

Phylogeny

This perspective investigates the history of a behavior, and its evolution.  These questions may ask when and why a trait first evolved, or compare the differences between behaviors.

Proximate Questions

Tinbergen's proximate questions ask “how” questions, and investigate immediate factors relevant to a behavior

Ontogeny

This perspective focuses on explanations that involve the development of a behavior through an individual's lifespan. Often this perspective aims to look at changes accross an individuals lifespan.

Mechanism

This perspective utilizes causal explanations that describe how a behavior is performed. This may involve describing specific structures and mechanisms involved in a behavior.