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A parametric model for estimating prevalence, incidence, and mean bout duration from point sampling
Author(s) -
Griffin B.,
Adams R.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
american journal of primatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.988
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1098-2345
pISSN - 0275-2565
DOI - 10.1002/ajp.1350040305
Subject(s) - duration (music) , statistics , incidence (geometry) , parametric statistics , semiparametric model , sampling (signal processing) , demography , parametric model , mathematics , econometrics , medicine , computer science , filter (signal processing) , sociology , computer vision , art , geometry , literature
Point or instantaneous sampling refers to the scoring of presence or absence of behavior at the end of equally spaced intervals of time and is used to estimate prevalence. The literature cited demonstrates that point sampling does not adequately estimate frequency or mean bout duration. A parametric model is developed based on exponentially distributed times of behavior and intervening nonbehavior, thus enabling estimators of mean bout length and incidence. Variance estimators are provided and a method is suggested for designing sample situations which control the variance of the prevalence estimator. The paper concludes the theoretical investigation with a thorough Monte Carlo investigation and application to a “real‐life” problem. The point sample estimators compare favorably with continuous observation under appropriate choice of sampling interval and under approximately exponential assumptions.