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A cumulative frequency distribution is another type of frequency distribution. Instead of reporting how many data values fall in some classes, it reports how many data values are contained in either that class or any class to its left. Technically, it means the sum of frequencies of the class and all the classes below it in a frequency distribution. A cumulative frequency is calculated by adding the frequency of each class lower than the corresponding class interval or category. In general, a...
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Automated Microbial Cultivation and Adaptive Evolution using Microbial Microdroplet Culture System MMC
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What is cumulative cultural evolution?

Alex Mesoudi1, Alex Thornton2

  • 1Human Behaviour and Cultural Evolution Group, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK a.mesoudi@exeter.ac.uk.

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|June 15, 2018
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cumulative cultural evolution (CCE) is debated across species. This review clarifies CCE criteria, distinguishing core elements found in non-humans from extended human traits, aiding future research.

Keywords:
animal culturecultural evolutioncumulative cultureinnovationsocial learning

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Area of Science:

  • Integrates biology, psychology, and anthropology to explore cumulative cultural evolution (CCE).
  • Examines the evolutionary significance of CCE in human and non-human species.

Background:

  • CCE is a key concept explaining human behavioral complexity and evolutionary success.
  • Ongoing debate exists regarding the presence and uniqueness of CCE in non-human species.
  • Ambiguous definitions of CCE hinder clear scientific discourse and research progress.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and clarify definitions, usage, and testing methodologies of CCE.
  • To establish necessary and sufficient criteria for identifying CCE across species.
  • To differentiate core CCE criteria potentially found in non-humans from extended human criteria.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of theoretical models, observational, and experimental studies on CCE.
  • Analysis of how researchers define, utilize, and empirically test CCE.
  • Reinterpretation of existing data through refined, fine-grained CCE criteria.

Main Results:

  • Identified a core set of CCE criteria applicable to both human and non-human species.
  • Distinguished extended CCE criteria observed exclusively in humans to date.
  • Highlighted potential differences in socio-cognitive mechanisms underlying core versus extended CCE.

Conclusions:

  • Proposes a more precise framework for understanding and investigating CCE.
  • Recommends researchers explicitly state which CCE components they are testing.
  • Emphasizes the need for clarity in CCE research to resolve ongoing debates.