Knowledge Base

Edit the Coding Scheme

Add an Element to the Coding Scheme

If you observe something that does not match any element in your coding scheme, you can add new elements (Subjects, Behaviors, Modifiers) or element groups (Behavior and Modifier groups) in two ways:

• Method 1 (best for offline observations and extensive changes): Stop the observation, re-open the coding scheme via Setup > Open Coding Scheme, add the new element, then re-open and start the observation.
• Method 2 (for both live and offline observations with limited changes): Add the new element while observing and score it immediately. See Add a Coding Scheme Element While Observing.

Add a Coding Scheme Element While Observing

1. If carrying out an observation from video or audio, pause the file first.
2. In the Codes window, click the tab you want to add an element to. For example, to add a behavior, choose Behaviors.
3. Choose one of the options at the bottom of the Codes window.

Add a Subject

1. Enter the name of the new subject and its keycode, or accept the suggested code.
2. Click Add.

Add a Behavior

1. From the Add to Group list, select the behavior group that the new behavior should belong to.
2. Enter the name and keycodes for the new behavior, or accept the suggested ones.
3. From the Type list, select whether the new behavior is a Point Event, a State Event, or an Initial State Event. See Behavior Types in Set Up Your Project.
4. In the Link To box, select the modifier groups you want to associate with the behavior.
5. Click Add.

Add a Behavior Group

When your observation method is Instantaneous Sampling, you cannot add a behavior group. To add a behavior group for continuous sampling:

1. Enter a name in the Group Name field.
2. Choose whether the behaviors in the group can or cannot occur at the same time. See Behavior Group Types in Set Up Your Project.
3. Enter the behaviors and, for each behavior, choose whether it has duration or not. See Behavior Types in Set Up Your Project.

Add a Modifier

1. Select the group to which the new modifier belongs. If the modifier does not belong to any existing group, create a new group first.
2. Enter a Value and Keycode.
3. Click Add.

Add a Modifier Group

1. In the Add Modifier Group window, choose a Nominal or Numerical group. See Modifier Group Types in Set Up Your Project for the difference.
2. Enter a name and all modifiers.
3. In the Link to Behaviors box, select the behaviors you want to associate with the modifier group, then click Create Group.

Notes

• Remember to also define connections between subjects and behaviors, and between behaviors and modifiers.
• If the configuration is locked (see Lock the Project Setup in Set Up Your Project), it is not possible to add new elements to the coding scheme.
• In the Codes window, you can add new elements to your coding scheme but cannot modify or delete existing ones. To modify or delete existing elements, open the coding scheme.

Edit a Coding Scheme Element After Observing

1. Stop the observation.
2. Open the coding scheme by choosing Setup > Open Coding Scheme.
3. Click the element.
4. To change the element, choose Properties at the bottom of the screen to open the Properties pane and modify the element properties. See Create Coding Scheme in Set Up Your Project for details. To delete the element, press Ctrl+Delete.
5. Re-open the observation and resume scoring.

• If at least one observation contains the element you want to delete, the program inactivates it instead. The element remains present in your data so it can still be analyzed.