A researcher raises a sample of unrelated macaque monkeys in identical laboratory environments. He finds significant differences among these monkeys in their preference for novel visual stimuli. What might the researcher legitimately conclude concerning the relative effects of nature and nurture on the preference for visual novelty?

nature contributes substantially to the monkey's preference for visual novelty

Explanation:

In a nature versus nurture research, the researchers aims at studying the effect of genetics (nature) versus environment (nurture) on a particular behavior of the subjects. Nature asserts that the behavior and preferences of a subject is majorly determined by genetic make-up while nurture asserts that the behavior and preferences of a subject is determined by the environment which he grew in.

In study of monkeys kept under similar conditions showing different preferences, can only be explained that the environment which is homogeneous in this case did not play affect their behaviors and preferences but that genetics plays a more substantial role in their preferences

Nature is inherent to nurture

Explanation:

Nature is the biological predisposition of an organism that has been fine tuned over multiple generations of its existence. It will induce certain survival behavioral instincts and inclinations that was necessary for that organism to survive. It will also regulate biological clocks and organism habitat as well as influence food, shelter and mate choices.

Nurture: Is not the influence of genetic predisposition but the influence of environmental factors that encourage a certain behaviour.

Scientist have a long standing controversy of which is more powerful. In the case of the monkeys, while they are given the same environment their inert preference for a certain stimuli is derived from the individual itself. The scientist will conclude that the nature of the monkey out influences it's nurture.