Measuring And Recording Animal Behaviour

Question 1

What are some of the measurements used to qualify animal behaviour?

Answer 1

-latency
-frequency
-duration

Question 2

What is the definition of latency?

Answer 2

The time between the stimulus occurring and the response behaviour

Question 3

What is the definition of frequency?

Answer 3

The number of times a behaviour occurs within the observation period

Question 4

What is the definition of duration?

Answer 4

The length of time each behaviour occurs during the observation

Question 5

What are ethogram of the behaviours shown by?

Answer 5

A species in a wild context allows the construction of time budget

Question 6

What do ethograms list?

Answer 6

Species-specific behaviours to be observed and recorded in the study.

Question 7

What does recording the duration of each of the behaviours in the ethogram together with the total time of observation allow?

Answer 7

The proportion of time spent on each behaviour to be calculated in the time budget

Question 8

What is it important to avoid when analysing animal behaviour?

Answer 8

Anthropomorphism

Question 9

What is the definition of anthropomorphism?

Answer 9

The attribution of human traits, emotions or intentions to non-human entities. Anthropomorphism can lead to invalid conclusions

Question 10

What are examples of anthropomorphism include?

Answer 10

-dogs “smiling” when it shows its teeth
-cats being “lazy” or “board” when not responding to commands

Question 11

What can anthropomorphism lead to?

Answer 11

Invalid conclusions