INFOBITS: A Visual Basic program for calculating information theoretic statistics from behavior sequences

We describe a Visual Basic add-in macro program for Microsoft Excel 5 and 7 (and later versions) that calculates basic, first-order, information theoretic statistics from matrices based on behavior sequences, such as those from animal or human interaction studies. Information theoretic statistics measure association between behavioral events in bits, a unit that is independent of the particular system under study. A sample size bias correction of the value for the mean information transmission (Ht) is included in the program. A normalization of Ht reports the efficiency of information transmission relative to the amount of information in the system. The program incorporates an iterative pseudo-random resampling algorithm that reports a confidence level (P) for Ht. Mean information transmission is partialized, to determine the relative contribution of each behavior category to Ht. An algorithm for calculating confidence intervals allows comparison among different matrices. The program runs in a common spreadsheet, and is therefore useful to researchers or students who only have access to desktop or laptop microcomputers.