Knowledge Base

Carry Out an Observation

Overview

Carrying out an observation involves the following steps:

1. Create an observation and (for offline observations only) load the videos.
2. Position the video (offline observations only).
3. Choose the active states at observation start (mutually exclusive and exhaustive behavior groups only).
4. Start the observation.
5. Score data.
6. Stop the observation.

Create an Observation

Aim

To create an empty worksheet for event logging, called an Event Log.

Prerequisite

You followed the procedure in Set Up Your Project.

Procedure

1. Choose Observe > Observation > New.
2. Optionally, enter an observation name and add a description.
3. Live observation – Optionally, select devices in the Devices tab (see Control External Devices or Programs during a Live Observation in Set Up Your Project). Click OK.
   Offline observation – The Devices tab is grayed out. Click OK.
4. Offline observation only – Select your video. To visualize the audio of a video file as a waveform, select Visualize Audio. See Visualize Audio Waveforms from a Video File.
   To code from audio files without video, close the Select Videos window and click the Import Audio button on the toolbar. Select the audio file and click OK.

Modifying Observation or Event Log Name and Description

1. For observations – In the Project Explorer, open the Observations folder, right-click the observation and select Properties.
   For event logs – In the Project Explorer, open the Observations folder, unfold the observation and then the Event Files item. Right-click the event log and select Properties.
2. Edit the name of the observation or event log and description, then click OK.

Position the Video

Aim

To choose the moment in the videos where you want to start scoring. This is needed for offline observations only.

Prerequisites

• You chose Offline Observation as the observation source.
• You created an observation and selected the videos.

Procedure

Move the playback slider to where you want to start scoring. Use the playback buttons for fine positioning. See The Playback Control Window.

If you do not see the Playback Control window, choose View Settings > Show Window > Playback Control.

Choose the Active States at Observation Start

Aim

To make sure the correct events are scored at the start of the observation. This is only needed if you have mutually exclusive and exhaustive behavior groups.

Prerequisites

• You defined a mutually exclusive and exhaustive behavior group in your coding scheme.
• You created an observation.

Procedure

1. If you defined a mutually exclusive and exhaustive behavior group in your coding scheme, Initial State events appear in your event log and Data and Audio Visualization window when you create an observation. Check that the states are correct. The Initial State events run from time 0 until the end of the video. When you work live, the Initial State events have a duration of 15 minutes. The duration will be corrected as soon as you start coding.
2. If an Initial State event is not correct, select the cell and score the correct event behavior by pressing the key code. This behavior is now recorded at time 0. For example, if the initial state event in the mutually exclusive and exhaustive group Playing is Not Playing, and you notice the child is playing with a toy, code the behavior Play Toy before you start the observation.
3. If the initial state events are linked to one or more modifiers that must be scored, score the modifiers as well. See Define Modifier (Group) Properties in Set Up Your Project.
4. Repeat the steps above for all initial state events.

Start the Observation

Procedure

1. Click the Start Observation button.
2. If you have defined independent variables in your project setup and chose to edit them before the observation, enter the values in the window that appears. You can skip values that are not compulsory. See Value Update in Set Up Your Project.
3. Score your data. For the general procedure, see Score Data. For detailed procedures, see Continuous Sampling, Instantaneous Sampling, and Continuous and Instantaneous Sampling. To pause a live observation, see Suspend an Observation.

Score Data

Aim

To carry out an observation.

Prerequisites

You created and started an observation.

Procedure

Score the subjects, behaviors, and their modifiers by typing the predefined key code or by clicking the key code in the Codes window. Typing key codes is generally faster. What you have scored appears in the Event Log window and is visualized in the Data and Audio Visualization window. Each row in the event log corresponds to one event. You can also type free text in the Comment column and press Enter. See Enter Events as Free Text.

Scoring Order

For each event line, score the subject first, then the behavior, and then the modifiers linked to that behavior. Score subjects and modifiers only if they are defined in your coding scheme. The Codes window displays which element should be scored next.

Event Log Symbols

• The start of an event with duration (state event).
• The stop of an event with duration (state event).
• The start of an event in a mutually exclusive and exhaustive group. The state is active from that moment and the previous state is no longer active.
• An event without duration (point event).
• An instantaneous sample event.

Notes

• When you save the project, the Event Log file is saved in the Event Data subfolder within your regular project folder.
• Make sure that the time before your computer goes into standby mode or hibernation is set to longer than the longest likely interval between scored events. To specify the interval, in the Control Panel choose Power Options, click Change When the Computer Goes to Sleep, and make your selection.