The measurement and understanding of avian cognition and behaviour

Jessica Schwarzenbach and I are back visiting the Psychology Department at Cambridge University. We have been here a month and are continuing our research into the measurement and understanding of avian cognition and behaviour. This research has two strands: the assessment of scientists working in the area of avian cognition/behaviour; developing psychometric and qualitative analyses of avian cognition/behaviour. Professor Nicky Clayton has again extremely generously hosted our stay and work.

The first strand involves interviewing and using projective research techniques to analyse the thoughts and attitudes of scientists working with birds in terms of their research.

The second of these strands is involved with the use of both quantitative ands qualitative facet theory to analyse bird behaviour. I have been using this approach over the last year to analyse data sets of bird behaviour.