DOI: 10.5061/dryad.wpzgmsbm4
title: The modularity of a social group does not affect the transmission speed of a novel, socially learned behaviour, or the formation of local variants

description: Data set used within the Article "The modularity of a social
 group does not affect the transmission speed of a novel, socially learned
 behaviour, or the formation of local variants."  The
 structure of a group is critical in determining how a socially learnt
 behaviour will spread. Predictions from theoretical models indicate that
 specific parameters of social structure differentially influence social
 transmission. Modularity describes how the structure of a group or network
 is divided into distinct subgroups or clusters. Theoretical modelling
 indicates that the modularity of a network will predict the rate of
 behavioural spread within a group, with higher modularity slowing the rate
 of spread and facilitating the establishment of local behavioural variants
 which can prelude local cultures. Despite prolific modelling approaches,
 empirical tests via manipulations of group structure remain scarce. We
 experimentally manipulated the modularity of populations of domestic fowl
 chicks, Gallus gallus domesticus, to affect the transmission of a novel
 foraging behaviour. We compared the spread of behaviour in populations
 with networks of high or low modularity against a control population where
 social transmission was prevented. We found the foraging behaviour to
 spread socially between individuals when the social transmission was
 permitted; however, modularity did not increase the speed of behavioural
 spread nor lead to the initial establishments of shared behavioural
 variants. This result suggests that factors in the social transmission
 process additional to the network structure may influence behavioural
 spread.   This dataset includes: The manipulated social networks
 of our 6 populations of domestic chicks (2 of high modularity, 2 of low
 modularity and 2 asocial control populations where social transmission was
 prevented). The order in which chicks learnt the solving behaviour
 alongside information on individual level variables. The solving
 techniques used by chicks in all their solves throughout the experiment.
 The R code use to perform the analyses (Coxph analysis, OADA, testing for
 assortment)
description: File Title Short Description <b>ManuscriptModularity.R</b> R code for all analysis R code for all analysis conducted within the manuscript <b>cumulativeLearningPotential</b> <b>NetworksChicksModularity</b> <b>Combined.RData</b>   Dynamic OADA networks R data to load (containing the dynamic OADA networks used in the analysis) <b>ChicksModularity Number RB doors.txt</b>   Data on chicks solving techniques This data describes every individual’s solving techniques performed across the experiment. <b>LowCombinedNetsNAs.txt</b>   Social networks of Low modularity Social networks for populations of the low modularity condition <b>HighCombinedNetsNAs.txt</b>   Social networks of High modularity Social networks for populations of the high modularity condition <b>Chicks 4&5&7 survival D rem.txt</b>   Data for Survival (coxph) analysis This data describes at which point each individual first acquired the novel solving behaviour, used for the coxph model. (Initial demonstrators removed)