Structure Behavioral Events

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Structure Behavioral Events

Doing research basically means exploring something new, so there is no standard system on how to structure your data. Maybe within your field of application there is, but not in general.

Your data structure, has impact on the statistics and the original data can be re-arranged, in order to answer specific questions. INTERACT offers many routines for restructuring AFTER you have collected your data!

The most important structural element is the DataSet:

oDataSets, group behavioral Events from the same session, task or person.  

oIn statistical calculations, export and graphical representation, the results are split per DataSet.

oOther routines like the co-occurrence filter or sequence analysis are also performed per DataSet.

oTypically, each test session is stored in a single DataSet.

oMultiple observational passes through the video can be stored in the same DataSet.

Additional DataSets can be created whenever wherever you need them.

Some common structure advises are:

oAdd a separate DataSet for each session.

oLink your video file(s) to the DataSet that holds the corresponding Events.
See Link Video Files for Analysis

oUse the DataGroup element to group a collection of DataSets. For instance, a DataGroup can be used per subject and each DataSet can represent a different session.

oEnter a description into the DataSet and Group description line for easier identification.
See Identify DataSets and Groups.

oMerge multiple documents before analysis or other adaptive routines. See Merge Documents.

oUse Independent Variables for easier data selection during analysis, especially if you have a large number of DataSets. See Assign Variables.

oFor large coder groups, define a document template that holds a predefined DataSet structure, available independent variables, Class columns and reference to the CodeArchive. This minimizes inconsistencies.
See Work with Templates.

Note: Some analysis related corrections ask for moving and/or combining Codes and inserting new Classes, to move those Codes to, instead. Other goals can only be achieved by splitting your Events into multiple DataSets.