RAP: A computer program for exploring similarities in behavior sequences using random projections

Abstract

A computer program (RAP, for random projection) for exploring similarities between and within sequences of behavior is presented. Given a time window of a sequence, the program calculates a signature, a real-valued vector that is a random projection of the contents of the window (i.e., the codes occurring within it and their relative location, or onset and offset times) into an arbitrary K-dimensional space. The use of dynamic-programming algorithms and repetition-searching algorithms in both cases requires extensive calculation; the former have the advantage ofproviding optimal alignments between sequences (i.e., alignments that minimize disagreements between them), whereas some of the latter (specifically, Theme and REPuter) yield visual displays indicating where patterns occur in the sequences being compared. Mannila and Seppfinen (2001) proposed a method for exploring repetition of similar situations V. Quera, vquera®ub.edu 21

Modeling Temporal Interaction Dynamics in Organizational Settings

“…There is freely available software for conducting this type of analysis on coded temporal interaction data (e.g., Belaire-Franch, Contreras, & Tordera-Lledó, 2002 ; for an overview of freely available and commercial software options, see Marwan, 2016 ). Moreover, the basic principle of mapping recurrent behaviors can also be applied to recurrent behavioral sequences (e.g., problem–solution) rather than recurrences of singular behaviors (Quera, 2008 ).…”

A Systematic Review of Children’s Physical Activity Patterns: Concept, Operational Definitions, Instruments, Statistical Analyses, and Health Implications

“…Simply put, a pattern is something that repeats itself. Yet, the ways in which such repetitions are described, measured, analysed, and comprehended involve different classical methods [ 16 , 17 ] as well as data-mining approaches [ 18 , 19 , 20 ] which are still open to debate [ 21 ]. In children’s lives, their PAP is also governed by their family and school contexts.…”

Microstructural assessment of rodent behavior in the hole-board experimental assay

“…Different multivariate approaches are available to assess animal behavior [5,8,10,11,15,17]. In present research we used a MVA based on transition matrices elaborations.…”

“…It is our contention that contrasting findings concerning this behavioral component have been produced by the unfortunate association of two factors: first, since HB introduction almost 50 years ago [1], inter-relations among behavioral components in this experimental assay have been scantly investigated; second, as a consequence and even more important, only quantitative evaluations of headdip have been produced for a long time. Multivariate analyses (MVA) provide excellent tools to overcome such constraints because they make available useful and interesting information on the relationships among behavioral elements [3,4,5,10,11,15,17]. Concerning studies on anxiety and depression, various articles have provided, by means of MVA, reliable information on rodent's behavior in the elevated-plus maze [9], in the forced swimming test [12], in the sucrose preference test and in the open field [2].…”