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In psychological literature, a collection with expressions for different kinds of behavior (such as 'look left', 'raise arm', etc.), is called a Category system.

Within INTERACT, those expressions are referred to as (behavioral) Codes, that are logically grouped in Classes.

IMPORTANT: The great strength of INTERACT, lies in its extensive and easily accessible analysis functions. Various restructuring routines allow for a completely new insight into the observed behavior.

The most important "need-to-knows", while using INTERACT, are listed here:

oINTERACT supports a wide range of multimedia formats and different video codecs.
- On Windows, common formats like MP4, MOV, MTS, m2ts, AVCHD, avi, xvid, etc.
- On macOS, common formats like MP4, MOV, MTS, m4v, etc.

oExact time information is crucial and should be provided by the video.
Check the controllability and the overall duration of your video before coding.

Data Collection Process

oWithin INTERACT, the data, describing the observed behavior, is stored in Events.

oINTERACT logs Events with and without duration.

oEach Event can contain one or more expressions that fit your coding or category system.

oThis categorization process is referred to as Logging (or Event logging).

Typical data Collection

The default, coding system-based approach:

oINTERACT needs to be in Observation mode to log Events with a predefined Coding System.

oEvents are logged by clicking on Codes in the Coding panel or by pressing keys on the computer's keyboard.

oEach Event is logged with start time and offset information, during video-based or live observations.

oPer default, the start and the end of each Event is logged with the same Code/[key]. This means you click a code to log the start time of a new Event and click the same code again, to log the offset of that Event. Additional options, in the Coding settings dialog and tweaks in the Code definitions, allow you to simplify this Event logging procedure.

oThe way INTERACT reacts to your key strokes, depends on the chosen coding mode and the available coding options.

Explorative Data Collection

Alternative ways to use INTERACT for collecting observations:

oYou can simply add Event lines with a time stamp, using INTERACT like an Excel with video control by typing free text into one or more columns.

oYou can use part of the INTERACT logging functions by using the SPACEBAR with or without duration to enter free comments in the transcription field though a special comment dialog.

oRe-using information that was previously entered into a Class-column is easy when activating the drop-down option for all cells.

oThe Code Archive collects all entries and allow you to restructure and accumulate your findings in a tree structure.

Video Timing

oAll time information is logged and stored in milliseconds, then displayed as a time code!

oTime information is built up like this: HH:MM:SS:FF (= hours:minutes:seconds:frames) OR like this: HH:MM:SS.xxx (= hours:minutes:seconds.milliseconds), depending on your preferred settings. You can even work with dates in combination with this time information. For long term data use this syntax: YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS:FF (or :xxx)

oYou can move back and forward through your video as you please, INTERACT always uses the currently visible time code from the Observation Ribbon to create new Events.

Categorization

oINTERACT has no predefined structure for the number of objects and modifiers, you can map any kind of coding or category system.

oYou can categorize all kinds of behavior (or other information like quantity or scales) using free definable Codes.

oThere is no limit to the number of columns or to the length of the Observation Codes.

oThe Codes, to describe your behavioral categories, are logically grouped in Classes.

oEach Class is represented by a column in your data file, and is used for logically grouping your Codes. A single Code per Class can be a problem during analysis.

oYou can use an unlimited number of Classes, or just one.

oThe mapping between Codes and keys is saved in a Code Definition file.

oYou can use different Code definition files for additional passes through your video within the same document. This helps you to keep your choice of codes limited to the behaviors you are concentrating on per pass.

oYou can use different coding modes per pass within the same document.

oNon-defined Codes can be entered manually at any time, directly into the data file or the Code definition file.

Document structure

oINTERACT data is stored on three different levels:
1 = DataGroup,
2= DataSet,
3 = Event.

oEvents are structured in DataSets; typically you have 1 DataSet per session/video.

oEach DataSet can be named using the description line behind the time value.

oMultiple DataSets can be structured in DataGroups.

oTo handle a great number of observational sessions, you can make use of the independent variables to Identify DataSets and DataGroups.

oAll kinds of external, event-based data, can easily be reworked for the import into INTERACT, so you can make use of its wide range of analysis functions.

INTERACT windows

oINTERACT offers multiple windows for separate tasks, that can be spread over multiple monitors if you wish.

oDetailed descriptions of all windows can be found in INTERACT windows & dialogs.

There is, of course, a lot more to learn about INTERACT, so continue with this manual to explore the numerous possibilities.

Test Case

The slightly different aims for each project, can influence the value of your outcome tremendously. That is why we recommend to run a complete test case!

Always start with an Accuracy Test for Multimedia Control, to make sure your new videos and/or computers meet your needs.

Do code and analyze a significant part of 1 -2 real cases, before you start coding all available material. Simple structural issues should become apparent in such a test run. It helps you to ensure, that you find the best solution for each individual project.

INTERACT does allow you to change the chosen method or optimize the available Codes at any time, but making corrections to already logged data is always time consuming.

Analysis Check

It is very important to log enough data, to get a reliable impression of the possible results in the statistics. Often, small changes in the logging procedure or data structure, have huge impact on the instantly available statistical values.

If there is no perfect initial setup, that will get you all figures you want in one pass (or if you did make a mistake in your setup); INTERACT does offer numerous routines to make structural changes to your data, even after data collection has finished. So nothing will be lost.