Jul
8
Even the seemingly simplest mammalian behaviors, such as grooming one’s offspring, involve a complex series of tiny movements that may be invisible to the human eye. But in studying those behaviors, how to break them into reliable, measurable components? Defining, quantifying and assessing mammalian behavior is a thorny problem. Besides a shift in thinking to incorporate the complexity of animals actions, it really takes a great deal of experience and some training to approach behavior work correctly. Some of the scientist come across a number of challenges in imagining and measuring behaviors in the lab and field. For one, testing or observing behaviors in the lab and field.
For one, testing or observing behavior can interfere with the behavior itself. In studyin maternal behaviors in some animals, researchers have to much to measure and less than 21 days in which to do it. Assessments of fearfulbehaviors such as freezing can be variable among different scientists. And researchers who conduct field studies at night may not even be able to see the animals they study.
