Interested instructors may use the program for the cost of duplication. Description of the Program Presenting vignettes of animal and human behavior on a computer offers an ideal format for the difficult task of teaching naturalistic observation techniques. Basic sampling strategies are also covered. The program uses brief digitized video clips and model check sheets to illustrate the variety of behaviors that can be coded and the importance of precise operational definitions. Students' responses can be used to demonstrate the importance of interrater reliability and the basics of testing a hypothesis.
Instructors can enter coded data in class or before class.
The program also contains a library in which all video can be accessed, an editable glossary for important definitions, and a laboratory module which allows students to practice their skills on one of the five available video clips of animals and humans. We have now used the program in classes ranging from introductory psychology to advanced research classes and found that students consistently rate it highly. Warning, the pages represented by the thumbnails contain large jpg's and may take time to load without a high speed connection.