It’s Time!
Time to collect data!
Now that you’ve had a chance to make your own ethogram, it’s finally time to begin recording. But there’s more to it than just recording behaviors using an ethogram. You must institute a collection format, be that the Wide Format or Long Format.
So what’s the difference between the two?
Wide Format
The data collected on an individual will appear in a single row, even if the observations were recorded on multiple days
Long Format
The data collected on an individual will appear in different rows. (E.g. If Wen Yu is watched twice in one day, there will be two rows of data)
What format does PDXWildlife use?
When recording giant panda behavior, either in the field or through our Pacing Panda’s project, PDXWildlife uses the long format method to ensure adequate data collection. Since there are a wide number of variables that can affect behavior, creating a Long Format collection spreadsheet is the most ideal method. No amount of information is too much; therefore, any detail that can be recorded should be recorded. This includes, collecting not only behavioral data, but data that impacts the behavior of that particular animal. Examples of information that may be included in data collection are:
Examples of information that may be included in data collection are:
- Time
- Enclosure (E.g a giant panda may be in one enclosure one day, and another the next)
- Weather
- Temperature
- Human Influence (Keepers, Public Viewing, etc)
- Enrichment (Toys, Balls, etc)
Remember, these are not the only variables. There are so many other factors to consider when studying behavioral ecology. Below is an example of the Long Format that PDXWildlife uses when collecting behavioral data on giant pandas through the Pacing Pandas project.
Curious about our Pacing Pandas Citizen Science?
Come try your hand at being a Panda Scientist and help us collect behavior data for our Pacing Pandas Citizen Science Project!
When would you use Wide Format?
Typically, you can use wide format data when you’re ready to analyze it. You might think of wide format as a sort of “data summary”. It looks at gathered data in a more grouped fashion allowing it to be easily viewed and interpreted. Below is an example of some of our behavioral data turned into Wide Format.
PDX Wildlife Team