measuring behaviour Flashcards
lecture 5 + 6
captive studies
useful information where behaviours not directly linked to ecological factors
easier, less costly
experimental method
control over variables
what can you get from poo
age
diet - feeding ecology
DNA - relatedness; nepotism, mate choice
physiology - hormonal analyses, reproductive decisions, aggression
observation advantages
quickly collect lots of data
support hypothesis
observation disadvantages
lack of control over variables - can’t prove hypothesis
experimental advantages
control over variables
experimental disadvantages
controlled environment
lack ecological validity
intensive, difficult to maintain natural behaviour
comparative advantages
large scale tests of evolutionary hypothesis
comparative disadvantage
valid comparison depends on data accuracy and comparability
systematic sampling
repeatable, reproduceable
systematic sampling - repeatable
study can be repeated by others in exactly the same way
systematic sampling - reproduceable
allows for testing of the result found
if the result is a robust one, same finding should be achieved when its reproduced
how to know which method to use
what do you want to know
how much detail is required
what analysis will you use to answer your question
other considerations - observer fatigue, reliability
what’s the correct sample size
number of independent replicates needed to be able to uncover a statistical difference
- what is the extent of the difference between 2 samples
- to what extent do the 2 samples differ within themselves
types of measure
latency, frequency, duration, intensity
behavioural state
behaviour that persists over appreciable duration
behavioural state - measure
duration, intensity
behavioural event
instantaneous behaviour of short duration
behavioural event - measure
latency, frequency, intensity
ad libitum sampling
no systematic constraints on what or when to record
problem - over representation of behaviours that are more conspicuous
not a good method for scientific study of behaviour
good for preliminary observations
scan sampling
whole group of animals scanned at regular intervals
recorded according to a limited number of clearly defined behaviour categories
good to get a broad brush assessment of what animals are doing
only applicable to recording behaviour states
may spend more time out of sight
focal animal sampling
researcher selects 1 individual and records until - all behaviours of that individual are all occurrences of specific behaviours of interest that the animal exhibit, during set period
may be chosen randomly or with some specific criteria
recording has to stop if they go out of sight
behaviour sampling (all occurrences)
select 1 or few specific behaviours of interest and record every occurrence
useful for determining rate or frequency of behavioural events and rare but significant behaviours that may be missed
2 recording rules
continuous recording
time sampling
