Behavioral observations

LAB: 1

Information which can be obtained (1)

the presence or absence of the particular activity;

the frequency of occurrence of each activity during the observation period;

the duration of each bout of each activity;

the intensity of the activity at each occurrence;

4th problem

Evolution of Phylogeny

– How did the behavior evolved during the history of the species ?

– What factors were involved in molding the behavior over the course of evolutionary history ?

Recording behavior

Check sheets

Tape-recorder

Video recorder

Computer software

Direct observation Videotaping

http://www.noldus.com/

Check Sheet Design

Sample intervals

Categories of behaviorIndependent variables:(date; time; observer;subjects...)

Preliminaries to measuring behavior

Preliminary observation– raw material for formulating

questions and hypotheses

– choosing recording methods & measures requires some knowledge of the subject and their behavior

Ways to describe behavior

The structure is the appearance, physical form or temporal patterning of behavior. – “run tip of bill along primary feather of wing”

The consequences are the effects of the subject’s behavior on the environment, on other individuals or on itself.– “obtain food; escape from a predator”

Ways to describe behavior

The individual’s spatial relation to features of the environment or to other individuals.– emphasis: where or with whom

• approach feeder; leave nest;

Choosing categories: general guidelines

Choose enough categories to describe the behavior (+provide background information)

• too many: difficult to record reliable data

• too few: miss important background information

Choosing categories: general guidelines

Define precisely the categories

Categories should be independent

Categories should be “generally” homogeneous

Types of measure Latency:

(measured in units of time: s; min. or h)

• is the time from a specific event to the onset of the first occurrence of the behavior. For example, if a piglet suckles for the first time 15 minutes after being born, the latency to suckle is 15 minutes

Birth Suckle (1) Suckle (2) Suckle (3)

0 15min 35min 60min

Types of measure Latency:

(measured in units of time: s; min. or h)

• is the time from a specific event to the onset of the first occurrence of the behavior. For example, if a piglet suckles for the first time 15 minutes after being born, the latency to suckle is 15 minutes

Birth Suckle (1) Suckle (2) Suckle (3)

0 15min 35min 60min

Types of measureFrequency:

(measured in reciprocal units of time; e.g., s-1 , min.-1 or h-1)

• is the number of occurrences of the behavior pattern per unit of time. For example, if a piglet suckles 3 times during a 60 minutes recording session, the frequency of suckling is 3 h-1. Suckle (1) Suckle (2) Suckle (3)

0 15min 35min 60min

Types of measureDuration:

(measured in units of time; e.g., s , min. or h )

• is the length of time for which a single occurrence of the behavior pattern lasts. For example, if a piglet starts suckling and stops 20 s later, the duration of that suckling period was 20 s.

Suckle (1) Suckle (2) Suckle (3)

0 15min 35min 60min

total duration=60 s/hproportion=60/36000.016

mean duration1+2+3/3=20 s

Types of measure Intensity:

• the number of component acts per unit of time. For example, the sound intensity of the vocalization (piglet or sow) that precedes milk ejection.

Suckle (1) Suckle (2) Suckle (3)

0 15min 35min 60min

Information which can be obtained (1)

1) the presence or absence of the particular activity;

2) the frequency of occurrence of each activity during the observation period;

3) the duration of each bout of each activity;

4) the intensity of the activity at each occurrence;

Information which can be obtained (2)

the latency of occurrence of the activity after some stimulus or previous action;

the timing and nature of subsequent activities;

the timing and nature of behavior changes in relation to physiological changes.

Events versus States

Events:• behavioral patterns of relatively short duration

discrete body movementsvocalizations

Events versus States

States:• behavioral patterns of relatively long

durationbody posturesresting, feeding, drinking

Sampling rules

Ad libitum sampling• no systematic constraints are placed

1

23

4

5 6

7

Sampling rules Focal sampling

• one animal (one litter...) for a specified amount of time

1

2 3

45

6

760 min.

2 5 4 1 3 6 2

7:00-10:00 12:00-15:00

Sampling rules Scan sampling

• the whole group is scanned at regular intervals

1

2 3

45

6

760 min.

2 5 4 1 3 6 2

7:00-10:00 12:00-15:00

Sampling rules

Behavior sampling• the whole group is observed and each occurrence of

a particular behavior is recorded

27

57

37

Sampling rules

Recording rulesRecording rules

Continuousrecording

Timesampling

Instantaneoussampling

One-zerosampling

Ad libitumsampling

Focal sampling

Scan sampling

Behaviorsampling

Recording rules

Continuous recording• each occurrence of the behavior is recorded

times at which a behavior pattern occurs (events)behavioral pattern start and finishing time (states)

bull 7*

Performer Behavior

gc

gc= groom cowgb=groom performer

Receiver

5

start end outcome

7:30 7:35 gb

* Focal

Recording rules Time sampling

– a) instantaneous sampling (freeze picture) – b) one-zero sampling (occurred or not)

register the occurrence of the behavior using “sample intervals”

7:00

Sample grazing drinking walking

1 2 5; 6 7 3 2

idle s. idle l. other

7:02

b)

a)