Measuring Behaviour

An Introductory Guide

Paul Martin, Patrick Bateson

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Year: 2007
• Print ISBN: 9780521828680
• eBook ISBN: 9781139632843
• Edition: 3
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Zoology
• Index: Biological Sciences

Measuring Behaviour has established itself as a standard text. Largely rewritten, updated and reorganised, this third edition is, as before, a guide to the principles and methods of quantitative studies of behaviour, with an emphasis on techniques of observation, recording and analysis. It provides the basic knowledge needed to measure behaviour, doing so in a succinct and easily understood form. The sections on research design and the interpretation and presentation of data have been greatly expanded. Written with brevity and clarity, Measuring Behaviour is, above all, a practical guide book. Aimed primarily at undergraduate and graduate students in biology and psychology who are about to embark upon quantitative studies of animal and human behaviour, this book provides a concise review of methodology that will be of great value to scientists of all disciplines in which behaviour is measured, including biological anthropology, the social sciences and medicine.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Preface
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Think before you measure
• 3 Getting started
• 4 Individuals and groups
• 5 Recording methods
• 6 The recording medium
• 7 How good are your measures?
• 8 How good is your research design?
• 9 Statistical analysis
• 10 Analysing specific aspects of behaviour
• 11 Interpreting and presenting findings
• Appendix 1. Units of measurement
• Appendix 2. Some statistical terms
• Appendix 3. Advice on statistics textbooks
• Appendix 4. Checklist to consult before publication
• References
• Index