Measuring Behaviour: An Introductory Guide

Measuring Behaviour is the established go-to text for anyone interested in scientific methods for studying the behaviour of animals or humans. It is widely used by students, teachers and researchers in a variety of fields, including biology, psychology, the social sciences and medicine. This new fourth edition has been completely rewritten and reorganised to reflect major developments in how behavioural studies are conducted. It includes new sections on the replication crisis, covering Open Science initiatives such as preregistration, as well as fully up-to-date information on the use of remote sensors, big data and artificial intelligence in capturing and analysing behaviour. The sections on the analysis and interpretation of data have been rewritten to align with current practices, with advice on avoiding common pitfalls. Although fully revised and revamped, this new edition retains the simplicity, clarity and conciseness that have made Measuring Behaviour a classic since the first edition appeared more than 30 years ago.

Professor Melissa Bateson studied at the University of Oxford, graduating with an MA in zoology with biological anthropology and a DPhil in animal behaviour. She held a Wellcome Trust fellowship in the Department of Zoology at Oxford and the Department of Psychology at Duke University, USA, followed by a Royal Society University Research Fellowship in the Department of Psychology at Newcastle University, UK. She is currently Professor of Ethology at Newcastle where she teaches behaviour at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and runs an active research programme. Melissa is the daughter of the late Patrick Bateson and replaces him as co-author on this fourth edition.

Dr Paul Martin studied biology at the University of Cambridge, graduating in natural sciences and with a PhD in behavioural biology, and was a Harkness Fellow in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University. He subsequently lectured and researched in behavioural biology at the University of Cambridge and was a Fellow of Wolfson College. He co-authored the first three editions of Measuring Behaviour with Patrick Bateson, and is the author or co-author of several other books including Design for a Life (2000), Counting Sheep (2002) and Play, Playfulness, Creativity and Innovation (2013).