The reliability of behavioural measures obtained in the open-field

Abstract

Seven open-field measures (defecation, urination, ambulation, washing, rearing, latency, and inner circle activity) were obtained using a number of different scoring methods for albino and hooded rats.The albino Ss were tested on 3 different occasions. The first test session was conducted when Ss were 90 days old, the second test session was held 63 days later and a third test session was conducted 154 days after the second. The hooded rats were subjected to 1 test session when Ss were 90 days old. The reliability of these measures was examined using test-retest and odd-even day correlations. The obtained results suggested that defecation, ambulation and rearing can be considered as providing reliable measures of behaviour in the open-field.