Chinese

Acta Zoologica Taiwanica 11(1): 47-61 (2000)

Hsi-Te Shih and Hin-Kiu Mok

        Accuracy of data capturing is important for the study of animal behavior. ETHOM is a software package which makes the acquisition of the exact behavioral sequence and timing easy. In addition, a useful data analysis subroutine is also included. In the "Recording Data" function, the user can record behavior directly in the field by setting the time interval through the audio alarm function for time sampling of behavioral data. If the behavior is recorded on videotape, this program can also match its timing with the timing recorded on the videotape or the VCR counter, and the user can correct data directly or press a special key to perform editing functions corresponding to the VCR, including pause for timing, different playback speeds, and modifying previous records. Users can also continue recording data from previously saved data in the "Loading Data" function. Two methods of recording are provided, by pressing one key to input (GET-KEY method) or typing a string of keystrokes representing a behavior pattern as desired then pressing the ENTER key (KEY-IN method). The "Analyzing Data" function shows the duration and frequency of each behavior pattern, and the output file of the frequency contingency table. All saved files are in ASCII format and can be read by most commercial word processors and statistics programs. The "Information Analysis and Data Combination" function provides the values of parameters in information theory and allows file combination with "Contingency Table Output File", "Result Output File" or "Observational Data File". The program can be executed on any IBM-compatible computer.

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