Measuring Behaviour Flashcards
What steps would be taken by biologists to develop an Ethogram?
Familiarise with experimental species
Spend time watching individuals
Learn to recognise and distinguish different behaviours
Refer to ethograms for species (descriptive texts, full ethograms, papers with ethograms), and start to develop own if necessary
What important factors must be considered when investigating a hypothesis?
Location
Posture
Action
Substrate/Environment
The above are classified as either events, states, or actions.
When analysisng data from animal behaviour, what test is commonly used to achieve this?
What variations of this would be used in a comparison and a cell with less than 5?
T-tests.
In the event there was a comparison (before and after), this would be a paired t-test.
If a cell contains less than 5, Fisher’s exact test would be used.
Direct Observation allows biologists to record animal behaviour directly in their natural habitat:
This is achieved via long-hand notes or check sheets.
What are the pros and cons of the direct observation method?
Pros:
* Biologists can get a “feel” for the context
* 3-D view of animals
Cons:
* Can become tedious if there is little activity
* Behaviours missed if too hectic activity
* Antisocial times and working conditions
* Effect of observer? - Human error
In-direct Observation involves the observation of behaviour through alternative means, most commonly through technology:
Examples include the use of video recorders, general and computerised.
What are the pros and cons of the in-direct observation method?
Pros
* Flexibility of working hours
* Eliminates possible observer influences on animals
* Exact record of behaviour
* Can be speeded up (for infrequent behaviours)
* Can be slowed and repeated (for complex behaviours)
Cons
* Limited field of view, poor depth of focus
* Detailed analysis very time consuming
* Any technogical issues runs the risk of losing data
