Behavior Assignment

Research Methods Chapter 2

1. Basic Term Review

2. Measuring Behaviour

3. Various Research Designs

4. Animal Research

Basic Term Review

Manipulation of......VARIABLES

1. Independent: condition/event that is manipulated

2. Dependent: affected by manipulation (i.e. dependent upon the independent)

INDEPENDENT VARIABLES

DEPENDENT VARIABLE:

Rival male invaders

Relationship between variables is functional

Basic Term Review 1. Stimulus: condition/event that can influence behaviour

2. Response: the instance of behaviour in response

Basic Term Review

1. Overt: behaviour that can be directly observed

2. Covert: internal subjective behaviour that only the actor knows of

Basic Term Review

1. Appetitive Stimulus: event/condition that is actively sought

2. Aversive Stimulus: event/conditions that is actively avoided

Often referred to as: Pleasant and

Unpleasant Stimuli

Appetitive

Aversive

Appetitive & Aversive events......depend on the state of the event

Establishing Operation

Two types.......

1. Deprivation: prolonged absence of event that increases appetitive behaviour

Establishing Operation

2. Satiation: prolonged exposure to event that decreases appetitive behaviour

Basic Term Review 1. Contiguity: closeness or nearness........

Temporal contiguity..........events occur close together in time

Spatial contiguity............events occur close to each other in space

2. Contingency: one event predicts and other event

Basic Term Review 1. Contiguity: closeness or nearness........

Temporal contiguity..........events occur close together in time

Spatial contiguity............events occur close to each other in space

2. Contingency: one event predicts and other event

Measurement of Behaviour Definition of Behaviour................ETHOGRAM

Use of unambiguous terms with no function applied

e.g. Aggression

Measurement of Behaviour

Recording Methods.......several ways to record behaviour

1. Rate of response - often called frequency # of behavioural responses per unit time

60 presses in 30 min = 2/min

Cumulative recorder

Measurement of Behaviour

Recording Methods.......several ways to record behaviour

2. Intensity - magnitude of the behavioural response

Amount of saliva produced

2. Intensity - magnitude of the behavioural response

Measured also via local rate

# of behaviours per unit time

Measurement of Behaviour Recording Methods.......several ways to record behaviour

3. Duration - length of time that behaviour is performed

Total duration = total length of performance *best expressed as a proportion

Mean duration = accumulation of several performances

Measurement of Behaviour

Recording Methods.......several ways to record behaviour

4. Latency - length of time required for behaviour to begin

Measurement of Behaviour

Recording Methods.......several ways to record behaviour

5. Interval Recording - if a behaviour occurs within a set interval

*NOT how many occurred in the interval!

e.g. Aggression

- 200min @ 10 min intervals - 20 intervals

- aggression in 16 intervals = 80% incidence

Measurement of Behaviour

Recording Methods.......several ways to record behaviour

6. Time-Sample Recording - if a behaviour occurs within a series of intervals

e.g. Aggression

- 8 hour monkey day - every hour/10 min interval

- aggression in 5 intervals = 62.5% incidence