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Preface | |
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Introduction | |
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The scope of this book | |
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The four problems | |
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Different approaches to studying behaviour | |
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Why measure behaviour? | |
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Summary | |
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Think before you measure | |
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Choosing the level of analysis | |
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Choosing the species | |
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Choosing where to study | |
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Choosing when to observe | |
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Effects of the observer on the subject | |
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Anthropomorphism | |
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Ethical considerations | |
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Summary | |
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Getting started | |
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The steps involved in studying behaviour | |
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Preliminary observation | |
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Describing behaviour | |
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Choosing categories | |
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Defining categories | |
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Types of measure | |
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Events and states | |
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The different levels of measurement | |
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Summary | |
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Individuals and groups | |
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Identifying individuals | |
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Individual differences | |
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Assessing individual distinctiveness | |
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Defining a group | |
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Summary | |
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Recording methods | |
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Sampling rules | |
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Recording rules | |
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Continuous recording | |
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Instantaneous sampling | |
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One-zero sampling | |
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Choosing the sample interval | |
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The disadavantages and advantages of time sampling | |
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Summary | |
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The recording medium | |
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The options available | |
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Check sheets | |
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Event recorders | |
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Summary | |
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How good are your measures? | |
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Reliability versus validity | |
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Within-observer versus between-observer reliability | |
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Measuring reliability using correlations | |
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How reliable is reliable? | |
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Other ways of measuring reliability | |
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Factors affecting reliability | |
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Dealing with unreliable measures | |
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How independent are the measures? | |
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Summary | |
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How good is your research design? | |
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Performing experiments | |
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Experimental design | |
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Studying development | |
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Tests of preference and differential responsiveness | |
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Composite measures | |
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How much information to collect? | |
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Summary | |
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Statistical analysis | |
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General advice on statistics | |
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Spreadsheets and databases | |
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Exploratory versus confirmatory analysis | |
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What statistical tests should be used? | |
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Analysis of variance (ANOVA) | |
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Correlation | |
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Simple regression | |
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General linear models (GLMs) | |
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Multivariate statistics | |
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Circular statistics | |
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Did you collect enough data? | |
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Summary | |
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Analysing specific aspects of behaviour | |
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Bout length | |
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Analysing sequences | |
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Analysing rhythms | |
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Choice tests | |
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Social behaviour | |
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Summary | |
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Interpreting and presenting findings | |
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Floor and ceiling effects | |
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Assessing significance | |
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Problems with correlations | |
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Treasuring your exceptions | |
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Prior knowledge and Bayes' theorem | |
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Modelling | |
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Presentation of findings | |
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Science and the public interest | |
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Summary | |
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Units of measurement | |
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Some statistical terms | |
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Advice on statistics textbooks | |
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Checklist to consult before publication | |
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References | |
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Index | |