This Scientific American preview piece describes the research of an anthropologist who argues that some species of animals can experience a human emotion: Grieving.

The scientist, Barbara King, paid special attention to how she defined grieving  in animals. Read the conditions she describes:

“researchers may strongly suspect grief only when certain conditions are
met: First, two (or more) animals choose to spend time together beyond
survival-oriented behaviors such as foraging or mating. Second, when one
animal dies, the survivor alters his or her normal behavioral
routine—perhaps reducing the amount of time devoted to eating or
sleeping, adopting a body posture or facial expression indicative of depression or agitation, or generally failing to thrive.”

 a) is the above quote an operational definition or a conceptual definition of the variable, "grieving?"

One statement in the article states:

Occasionally the pull of anthropomorphism may overwhelm scientists’ normal caution in reporting animal responses to death.

b) What does it mean to "anthropomorphize"? Do you think anthropomorphizing could be a special example of observer bias? Why or why not?

One of the people who commented in the public comments section wrote,

Those of us who live with animals (dogs, cats, horses, cattle, etc)in
long term daily life know from experience that animals DO exhibit grief
and mourning beyond just curiosity.

c) Do you think that this person's observations are based on intuition, experience, or empiricism? Why or why not? What would you add to this comment to make it more scientific/empirical?