Knowledge Base

Define Project Setup

Aim

To define whether you want to observe live or from prerecorded video, whether you want to score continuously or with intervals, and how long you want to score.

Procedure

1. Choose Setup > Project Setup.
2. Choose the Observation Source.
3. Choose the Observation Method.
4. Choose the Observation Duration and, optionally, enter Project Information.

Observation Source

Choose one of the following options:

• Offline Observation — To score data from previously recorded video or audio files.
• Live Observation — If you want to score data from a live scene. If you select this option, the Devices window opens. Choose this option also:
  • To record video with MediaRecorder while you observe simultaneously.
  • To record data other than events, for example physiological data.

Note: You can change the observation source for different observations, for example if you want to analyze video you created during a live observation. Select the observation source before you create a new observation.

Observation Method

Choose one of the following options:

• Continuous Sampling — With this method you record all occurrences of the behaviors of interest of one or more subjects as they occur. You obtain full descriptive statistics of the behaviors, including duration per instance, total duration, and frequency. Choose Continuous Sampling to calculate absolute frequencies and durations of the behaviors of interest.
  • Example: You want to record the interaction between a parent and child and calculate the duration and frequency of the child smiling in the presence and absence of the parent.
• Instantaneous Sampling — With this method you record the behavior of one or more subjects at preselected moments in time. You obtain frequencies of the behaviors, not their durations. This method is also referred to as scan sampling, interval sampling, intermittent sampling, or point sampling. It is not the same as one-zero sampling, where it is recorded whether a behavior occurred or not during the previous sample period. Choose Instantaneous Sampling when your observations are too long or your number of subjects is too large to score every behavior of every subject as it occurs. Instantaneous sampling is commonly used to calculate time budgets, general activity, behavioral synchronization, and spatial relations in groups. Instantaneous sampling is not suitable for behaviors with very short duration, and should not be used if you plan to create episode selections with your data.
  • Example: You observe a group of children and want to know the spatial distribution of the group over different tables.
• Combine Continuous and Instantaneous Sampling — This method combines Continuous Sampling and Instantaneous Sampling. Use it when you want to record the behavior of one or more subjects in detail while recording the behavior of other subjects in less detail.
  • Example: You observe a group of chickens and want to record the behavior of one chicken in detail and the behavior of the rest of the group at regular time intervals.

Sample Interval Length

If you select Instantaneous Sampling or Combine Continuous and Instantaneous Sampling, the Sample Interval Length field appears under Observation Duration. It is important to choose an appropriate interval between samples to yield meaningful data. If the sample interval is too long, collecting a decent amount of data is time-consuming. If the sample interval is too short, data from successive samples are not independent.

More Options

See Other Project Setup Options.

Define Project Settings

Aim

To define the way you record data, for example how many characters keycodes have, the time format, and which playback control buttons to use.

Procedure

Choose Setup > Project Settings. See Project Settings for a full description of the options.

Note: You can change project settings at any time, even after you have already carried out observations. To return to the default options, click the Reset to Default button. Note that this resets the options of all tabs to their default settings, not only the ones on the current tab.

Create Coding Scheme

Aim

To create the set of elements that describe the events to be recorded. The Coding Scheme may consist of the following elements:

• Subjects (optional) — The individuals (persons, animals) that are observed.
• Behaviors — The behaviors or actions that are relevant for your research hypothesis.
• Modifiers (optional) — Factors that describe the behaviors in more detail.

Each element in the coding scheme is linked to a keycode.

Procedure

1. Choose Setup > Open Coding Scheme.
2. Create Subjects (optional), Behaviors, and Modifiers (optional).
3. Check your Coding Scheme for errors.

Notes

• The coding scheme can contain a maximum of 250 subjects, 250 behaviors, and 250 modifiers in up to 100 modifier groups. The maximum number of subject-behavior combinations is 5000.
• All coding scheme names must be unique and may consist of a maximum of 64 characters.
• Different limits apply if you use Pocket Observer. See the Pocket Observer Reference Manual for details.
• It is not mandatory to score subjects, behaviors, or modifiers. It is possible to record only free text in the comments column. However, you can only visualize and analyze an observation that contains scored behaviors.