- Support Material Type:
- Instructions
The Animal Observation Project asks you to analyze data from your 2-hour observation in several ways. These ways are:
- Calculating percentages of time spent in different behaviors
- Calculating durations of behaviors
- Determining typical sequences of behaviors
Calculating percentages of time spent in different behaviors
Number of minutes spent doing the behavior of interest/Number of minutes spent doing all observed behaviors x100
28 minutes grooming others/110 minutes of total behavior observed
.25 X 100 = 25% of time spent grooming others
Calculating durations of behaviors
Sum of all minutes of doing that behavior/Number of times that behavior was observed
28 minutes grooming others/18 times grooming others observed
Average 1.5 minutes per grooming others each time behavior was observed
Determining typical sequences of behaviors
Examine data sheet for patterns
For example, typical sequence around grooming:
- Approach others
- Grooming others
- Examining and eating items found in others' fur
- More grooming others
Information on the Internet
- Giant Panda Species Survival Plan: Behavior Ethogram (San Diego Zoo) An extremely detailed ethogram (list of behaviors, detailed definitions of behaviors and codes for a data sheet) that researchers use to study Giant Pandas at the San Diego Zoo.
- The Bicolored Tamarin Web Site: Sample Ethogram A sample ethogram used for observing tamarins. Note that the ethogram is divided into sections such as "social behavior," "solitary behavior," "food behavior," "aggressive behavior," etcetera.