The purpose is to determine whether the "face-processing system of humans" and in this case, the tamarin, share characteristics. By finding out if humans' face-processing systems and the face-processing systems of the tamarin are similar, the researchers will be more readily be able to allow "early and quick processing of socially salient stimuli" (Neiworth, et al., 2003). Do humans and primate share sensitivity toward "conspecific faces" (i.e., faces of the same species), and do they share an ability to "generalize changes in the face that do not suggest a new identity" (Neiworth). The researchers presented the subjects (a human and taramin) with "a human face, chimpanzee face, taramin face, or an object as a sample." The faces were either in an upright position, or inverted in the next phase of the research.

Conclusion: The above-mentioned research is an example of a totally ethical, well-managed psychological experiment. The results showed that in humans, "novel human faces generate more attention in the upright position than in the inverted position"; and in...

The monkeys also showed more attention to faces of their own species, unless the face was inverted. While the value of these findings may not be readily apparent to the layperson, psychologists do understand the outcomes of these seemingly esoteric experiments and moreover, no animal was harmed and the researchers obtained valuable data.
Works Cited

American Psychological Association. (2010). Animal Research Advances Animal and Human

Welfare: Research Animals in Psychology. Retrieved March 27, 2011, from http://www.apa.org/research/responsible/research-animals.pdf.

Neiworth, Julie J., Hassett, Janice M., and Sylvester, Cara J. (2003). Face processing in humans

and new world monkeys: the influence of experiential and ecological factors. Animal Cognition. Retrieved March 27, 2011, from http://www.acad.carleton.edu/curricular/PSYC/monkeys/face.html.