Statistical Analysis of Behavioural Data: An Approach Based on Time-Structured Models

Presenting sophisticated statistical methods for analysing continuous-time records of behaviour, this book integrates recent developments in ethology, mathematical modelling, statistics, and technology. With numerous worked examples, the book leads the reader through the mathematical processes and their applications. The book will be incomparably useful to students and researchers in all areas of behavioural science. The authors show how to analyse behavioural data starting with a basic model, the continuous-time Markov chain. They then indicate how and when this model can be generalized and demonstrate the suitability of their approach for detecting, for example, the effects of different experimental treatments or of changes in the social or physical environment. Competitive interactions such as predator-prey or host-parasite are also good subjects for this type of analysis.