Sniffy Project Instructions

  1. Pick a partner.
  2. Pick a time from those listed when you and your partner can watch Sniffy (allow for 30 minutes) and then sign up on the Sniffy sign up sheet outside Dr. Cannon's door.  You will get your Pair number, Rat ID numbers, and File sequence.
  3. Before you arrive to watch Sniffy, become comfortable with the operational definitions and their code letters.
  4. Flip a coin to determine who will be observer one and observer two.
  5. Before you watch Sniffy, be sure to look over the operational definitions and their code letters one last time.  Make sure you understand the data sheet and record all necessary information (i.e.  Pair number, Rat ID numbers, Section, etc.).
  6. You will watch a 10 minute segment of Sniffy.  Make sure to record the time when you start and the date.
  7. The stop watch will be set up to beep every 10 seconds*.  At each beep, look up and record the first behavior you see Sniffy perform (be sure to use the proper codes).
  8. Be sure to keep track of which trial (10 second interval) you are on.  If you get off track, you will hurt your inter-observer reliability and you may have to do this all over again.
  9. DO NOT talk to your partner while watching Sniffy.
  10. When you are through observing both files, take your data sheets to Dr. Cannon or the TA on duty so that they can check you inter-rater reliability.

* The stop watch should be set to CR mode (it looks like CA) in the upper left hand corner.  If it is not, use the lower right black button on the stop watch to change the setting to CR.  The red button clears the time back to zero seconds (with beeps every ten seconds).  The black button starts/stops the timer.