| 
Home Page
Research
Emphasis Areas
Research Affiliates
Core Services
Behavioral Science Core
Brain Imaging Core
Cellular Morphology Core
Genetics Core
Infant Primate Research Laboratory Core
Instrument Development Laboratory Core
|
Overview
The Behavioral Science Core (BSC) provides
behavioral scientists with the relevant tools, knowledge, and expertise,
as well as access to state-of-the-art facilities, to enable them
to expertly capture and characterize variations in human behavior.
CHDD behavioral scientists are involved in collaborative research
with scientists from a wide range of other disciplines. These studies
require careful characterization of behavioral variation, outcomes,
and phenotypes. Such characterization is becoming increasingly
complex, requiring sophisticated methodologies which can capture
behavior with precision at multiple levels of analysis.
Methods available from the BSC include state-of-the-art behavioral recording
systems that capture the complexities of social interaction and
sophisticated video coding systems and statistical packages.
Return to top
Location
Return to top
Faculty & Staff
Return to top
To Use Our Services
Investigators who are interested in consulting with the Behavioral Science Core should:
- Read about the equipment and services we provide, then
- Contact Dr. Spieker (spieker@u.washington.edu,
206-543-1051).
- For scheduling and details regarding the Behavior Observation
Laboratory and Coding Facility, contact Sally Schuh (sjschuh@u.washington.edu,
206-543-5017).
Return to top
Services and Facilities
Key Services
In addition to providing access to state-of-the-art
BSC facilities (see below), the BSC faculty and staff provide the
following types of technical expertise:
- Consultation regarding the design and analysis of experimental and observational techniques involving video recordings
- Consultation and training in the set-up of cameras, recording features, lighting, microphone, and video features to meet the unique needs of each study
- Editing of videotapes for experimental or presentation purposes
- Training in editing video for experimental or presentation purposes
- Consultation and training using Observational Coding System (OCS)and Mangold Interact software for collecting and analyzing observational time-based coding data
- Troubleshooting all aspects of technical problems arising in developing, piloting, and actually implementing studies using the video recording and coding systems
- Training and support on equipment, experimental designs, and analytic techniques
- Access to state-of-the art recording and coding facilities (see below)
Return to top
Facilities
Behavior Observation Laboratory and Coding Facility
Although adults are often good reporters
of children's behavior, there is no substitute for recording children's
behavior as they interact with people and things in the Behavior
Observation Laboratory. Once recorded, the behavior sample is
available for study from multiple perspectives, in ways that are
impossible with live observations. CHDD researchers can apply sophisticated
analysis techniques that involve counting and timing, as well as
examining the contingencies and sequences of behavior. These techniques
contribute to our understanding of normal and atypical patterns
of development, and intervention and treatment outcomes for children.
The Behavior Observation Laboratory and Coding Facility provide CHDD behavioral scientists access to state-of-the-art digital color video recording, coding, and editing capabilities.
 |
Floor plan of the
Behavior Observation Laboratory. |
Behavior Observation Laboratory
The Behavior Observation Laboratory is designed to capture and measure a wide range of behaviors, ranging from mother-infant interaction to frame-by-frame analysis of facial expressions. We provide training, software, and hardware necessary for designing behavioral experiments and videotaping behavior.
The Behavior Observation Laboratory includes video studios, with analog VHS– and digital DVD–format recording equipment. Each set-up has two cameras located in the room or behind one-way mirrors for complete room coverage and split screen capabilities. The analog cameras are operated directly and remotely; a computer-controlled switcher enables investigators to easily configure their own audio and video needs.
 |
Mother, child, and observer in Behavior Observation Laboratory. |
The digital system’s small cameras are located in the room instead of behind mirrors. A computer connects to the cameras and controls their pan-tilt-zoom functions. The cameras are combined to a single video stream and time stamped. Then the data can be recorded both direct-to-DVD and to mpeg files on the computer. The DVD recorder has dual optical drives for redundant archival recordings.
 |
Camera operator videotaping a session in one of the Behavior Observation Laboratory studios. This view and views from cameras placed in the room are visible in split-screen on the monitor at left. |
BOL user information page
Coding Facility
The Coding Facility of the Behavioral Science Core provides CHDD behavioral scientists access to state-of-the-art digital and analog video coding and editing capabilities.
The Coding Facility has independent stations to view, score, edit, transfer and archive analog VHS and digital DVD data.
 |
Equipment in the Coding Facility is used to code behaviors that were recorded in the Behavior Observation Laboratory studios or from other sources. |
The BSC Coding Facility Capabilities:
- Digital Coding Stations
- 4 coding stations with wireless internet access, MS Office Suite, WinDVD and Windows Media Player, CD&DVD burning capabilities, and access to Epson network laser printer. Two coding stations have 24" flat screen monitors for high resolution images and the ability to comfortably view video data and coding software programs simultaneous. Two have 19" flat screen monitors.
- 3 coding stations also include Observational Coding System (OCS) and Mangold Interact software for scoring digital video data. OCS and Mangold Interact software allows researchers to enter observations, or code events, directly into a computer. The software stamps each code with the time it is entered. Additional descriptive information may be added for a code during or after a coding session. OCS and Mangold Interact Tools software also contains a variety of statistical analysis functions, allowing the researcher to analyze data without having to transfer it to other programs.
- Analog video coding station
- One analog video coding station is dedicated to observational coding from videotapes. This station has time-code and frame by frame observational capability.
- Two dubbing stations with VHS jog shuttle devices can also be used for analog coding.
Video Editing and Duplicating Stations
- Editing
- Pinnacle Studio Digital video editing system for creating and combining video clips, adding titles and special effects (blurring faces, adding transitions, sound effects and audio narration).
- Duplication
- Video digitization system for conversion of VHS tapes to digital formats (mpeg files or DV digital video) for observational coding and presentation needs
- Additional stations are available for duplicating and archiving digital and analog video. Capabilities include DVD to DVD, VHS to VHS, VHS to DVD, and various camcorder formats to both VHS and DVD media.
Coding Facility user information page
Return to top
|
