Measuring Behaviour: An Introductory GuideThis new edition of Measuring Behaviour is a guide to the principles and methods of quantitative studies of behaviour, with an emphasis on techniques of direct recording and analysis. All sections have been updated, the sections on statistical analysis and research design have been greatly expanded. Those attempting to measure behaviour for the first time are often appalled by the apparent difficulty of the job. Measuring behaviour is a skill, but one which can be mastered given some basic knowledge. The purpose of this book is to provide that basic knowledge in a succinct and easily understood form. Aimed primarily at undergraduate and graduate students in biology and psychology who are about to embark upon behavioural research projects, this book provides a concise review of methodology that will also be of great value to professional scientists of all disciplines in which behaviour is measured. Principles and techniques are explained clearly in simple and concise language. -- from back cover. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
B The scope of this book | 3 |
General issues | 6 |
B The four problems | 7 |
C Choosing the right level of analysis | 9 |
D Choosing the right species | 10 |
E Field studies | 11 |
F Individual differences | 13 |
C Continuous recording | 88 |
D Instantaneous sampling | 90 |
E Onezero sampling | 92 |
F Choosing the sample interval | 93 |
G The advantages and problems of time sampling | 95 |
H Identifying individuals | 98 |
I Further reading | 100 |
The recording medium | 101 |
G The ethics and benefits of animal research | 14 |
H Anthropomorphism | 18 |
I The steps involved in studying behaviour | 19 |
J Further reading | 23 |
Research design | 25 |
controls order effects and interactions | 27 |
D Effects of the observer on the subject | 31 |
E Experimenter bias | 32 |
I Independence of measurements | 34 |
G Studying development | 38 |
H Coping with individual differences | 43 |
I How much information to collect | 49 |
J When to observe | 51 |
K Floor and ceiling effects | 52 |
L Replication | 53 |
M Further reading | 54 |
Preliminaries to measurement | 56 |
B Describing behaviour | 57 |
C Choosing categories | 58 |
D Defining categories | 60 |
E Further reading | 61 |
Measures of behaviour | 62 |
B Events versus states | 66 |
C Measuring bout length | 67 |
D Tests of preference and differential responsiveness | 69 |
E Defining a group | 73 |
F Dominance hierarchies | 74 |
G Indices of association | 78 |
H Maintenance of proximity | 79 |
I Assessing individual distinctiveness | 80 |
J Further reading | 83 |
Recording methods | 84 |
continuous recording versus time sampling | 87 |
B Check sheets | 103 |
C Computer event recorders | 106 |
D Further reading | 112 |
The reliability and validity of measures | 114 |
B Withinobserver versus betweenobserver reliability | 116 |
C Measuring reliability using correlations | 118 |
D Other ways of measuring reliability | 120 |
E Factors affecting reliability | 121 |
F Dealing with unreliable measures | 122 |
G Composite measures | 123 |
H Further reading | 124 |
Analysis and interpretation of data | 125 |
B Exploratory versus confirmatory analysis | 126 |
C Some statistical terms | 128 |
D Effect size versus statistical significance | 132 |
E The procedure used in hypothesistesting | 133 |
F Parametric versus nonparametric statistics | 134 |
G The uses and abuses of correlations | 137 |
H Simple regression | 145 |
I Multivariate statistics | 147 |
J Data transformations | 150 |
K Measurement error versus sampling error | 151 |
L Recording and analysing sequences | 152 |
M Rhythms | 154 |
N Plotting data | 157 |
O Further reading | 159 |
Guidelines for the use of animals in research | 161 |
SI units of measurement | 168 |
Summary of questions commonly asked in statistical analysis | 171 |
A miniature electronic beeper for time sampling | 173 |
Annotated bibliography | 175 |
216 | |
Common terms and phrases
activity analysis of variance Animal Behaviour Animals in Research assessing association Bateson behaviour pattern behavioural data behavioural research biology Biotelemetry calculated Cambridge categories of behaviour check sheet chicks Confirmatory data analysis continuous recording correlation coefficient described dominance hierarchy effects empirical error estimate ethical Ethology event recorder example experimental design experiments exploratory data analysis field studies focal frequency and duration human hypotheses important independent variable individual differences instantaneous sampling involved laboratory linear mean measuring behaviour multivariate non-parametric null hypothesis number of occurrences observation session obtained occurred one-zero sampling parametric tests Pearson correlation population possible practical principal component analysis problem proximate causation recording behaviour recording methods recording session regression reliability rhesus monkeys rhythms sample interval sample points scan sampling scores Slater species statistical power statistical significance stimuli studying behaviour techniques total duration total number ultradian units University Press validity variation