OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF BEHAVIOR - SAMPLING METHODS
OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF BEHAVIOR - SAMPLING METHODS
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DOI：
10.1163/156853974x00534
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发表时间：
1974-01-01
期刊：
影响因子：
1.3
通讯作者：
ALTMANN, J
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
ALTMANN, J
社会行为观察性研究的七种主要抽样方法已在文献中找到。这些方法在提供各种无偏数据的适用性方面有很大差异。下面是每种技术的主要推荐用途的总结：在本文中，我试图指出每种抽样方法的主要优点和缺点。有些方法对许多变量有固有的偏差，而另一些方法对较少的变量有固有的偏差。在选择抽样方法时，主要问题是该程序是否会导致所研究变量的有偏样本。一种方法可以直接产生有偏样本，这是由于相对于研究变量的内在偏倚，或者其次是由于研究变量和直接偏倚变量之间的某种程度的依赖性（相关性）。为了选择抽样技术，观察者需要仔细考虑与研究人群和手头的研究问题相关的行为和社会互动的特征。在大多数研究中，人们对相关变量之间的依赖关系没有足够的经验知识。在这种情况下，观察者应尽可能避免内在偏差，特别是那些直接影响所研究变量的偏差。最后，在一项研究中通常可以使用一种以上的抽样方法。这样的样品可以连续采集，或者在有利的条件下，甚至同时采集。例如，我们已经发现，在对个体进行焦点动物（行为）采样期间，可以每隔5分钟或10分钟对焦点个体的最近邻居的身份和距离进行即时采样。在焦点动物采样期间，通常还可以记录整个社会群体的某些行为的所有发生情况，例如捕食、群间接触、饮酒等明显行为的类别。同时多重采样的可行程度将在很大程度上取决于行为类别和发生率、观察条件等。在可行的情况下，这种多重抽样可以极大地帮助有效利用研究时间。
AbstractSeven major types of sampling for observational studies of social behavior have been found in the literature. These methods differ considerably in their suitability for providing unbiased data of various kinds. Below is a summary of the major recommended uses of each technique: In this paper, I have tried to point out the major strengths and weaknesses of each sampling method. Some methods are intrinsically biased with respect to many variables, others to fewer. In choosing a sampling method the main question is whether the procedure results in a biased sample of the variables under study. A method can produce a biased sample directly, as a result of intrinsic bias with respect to a study variable, or secondarily due to some degree of dependence (correlation) between the study variable and a directly-biased variable. In order to choose a sampling technique, the observer needs to consider carefully the characteristics of behavior and social interactions that are relevant to the study population and the research questions at hand. In most studies one will not have adequate empirical knowledge of the dependencies between relevant variables. Under the circumstances, the observer should avoid intrinsic biases to whatever extent possible, in particular those that direcly affect the variables under study. Finally, it will often be possible to use more than one sampling method in a study. Such samples can be taken successively or, under favorable conditions, even concurrently. For example, we have found it possible to take Instantaneous Samples of the identities and distances of nearest neighbors of a focal individual at five or ten minute intervals during Focal-Animal (behavior) Samples on that individual. Often during Focal-Animal Sampling one can also record All Occurrences of Some Behaviors, for the whole social group, for categories of conspicuous behavior, such as predation, intergroup contact, drinking, and so on. The extent to which concurrent multiple sampling is feasible will depend very much on the behavior categories and rate of occurrence, the observational conditions, etc. Where feasible, such multiple sampling can greatly aid in the efficient use of research time.