Methods of Analyzing Behavior Patterns

This chapter focuses on the methods of analyzing patterns of behavior from the perspective of the inductive approach with an emphasis on the individual organism and close inspection of data. The Experimental Analysis of Behavior is founded on the premise that behavior is orderly. The goal for any investigator is to account for as much regularity in behavior as possible by pointing to critical environmental determinants of the behavior. Several analysis methods for behavior patterns also have been developed by more ethologically oriented investigators. Martin and Bateson's short and easy introductory text is recommended for investigators new to the idea of analyzing behavior patterns. Regularities in behavior do occur at more local levels. Local response rates refer to rate calculated over some time period shorter than the full session length. Several investigators have developed techniques to record and control local response rates directly.