Finding an appropriate order for a hierarchy based on probabilistic dominance.

摘要: Methods of ranking individuals in a dominance hierarchy that use transitivity relationships may obscure irregularities. Furthermore, these methods only small proportion the information available from encounters. This paper presents an intuitively appealing and easily implemented alternative to existing for ordering data, developed work Batchelder et al. (1992, Journal Mathematical Psychology, 36, 185‐212). The procedure presented here is based on mathematical model paired comparisons it involves simple estimation procedures. We illustrate its with data among red deer, Cervus elaphus, stags. results indicate are well characterized by scale values provides, and, because method provides predictions all pairings animals, also exist pairs animals have yet be observed. Moreover, outcomes predicted using order highly correlated actual observations at levels. Overall, described solution problem identifying appropriate near-linear hierarchy. © 1999 Association Study Animal Behaviour