Score Score
Score assists in observations of behavior. An observer presses keys as
a subject displays various behaviors. Score records how often a behavior
occurs and how long a subject displays the behavior. Data are organized
in trials, sessions and studies. Accumulated results from several observers
may be combined, summarized and exported to Stat View and other analysis
and graphics programs.
Score was written for Dr. Dee Higley, NIAAA, NIH (Poolesville, MD), designed
by Jim Nash and Dawn Gregory. Application written in C++ by Dawn Gregory.
Manual written by Jim Nash
Score is a fancy set of counters. Each counter is attached to a key.
You can have a counter for every printable key. Each counter provides four
pieces of information:
Keys displayed in the Study window correspond with printing keys on the
keyboard. Keys are arranged in the order you define them. This makes it
easy to find a key.
Behavior mnemonics (SC2) associate a key with a behavior.
The number of times the key was pressed during the trial is the "frequency".
This may be edited to correct errors, in case you hit the key too many or
too few times.
The accumulated time keeps track of the total time the key was held down
through the entire trial. The time is displayed in seconds in tenth second
increments. This may be edited to correct errors, in case you held the key
too long or too short in time.
Observations occur during a "trial". The "Trial timer"
defines the length of time that a subject is to be observed. The Start button
starts the trial. The trial continues until the Trial timer counts down
to zero. The Stop button allows you to take a break or deal with an interruption.
The "Elapsed timer" shows the time that a subject was observed.
The "Trial timer" shows the time remaining in the current trial.
These times are always given in seconds. The Elapsed timer starts at zero
and increments as the Trial timer decrements. The initial value of the Trial
timer is set in the study information dialog box.
Score saves data in a "study file". The study file contains
information about behaviors, subjects and trials. As the name implies, a
study file is used for the duration of a study. Each observer owns their
own study file, so a study may have more than one study file. Trials from
multiple observers may be combined into a "Master File".
A study file has up to 50 behaviors, up to 50 subjects and a virtually unlimited
number of trials. The file organization is very simple which allows Score
to be very stable.
Score allows you to record observations from one individual at a time.
You may pause and resume an observation if interrupted. It is up to you
to determine what constitutes a valid reason to stop and resume a session.
A trial continues until the trial timer decreases to zero. When the trial
ends or is interrupted, the data is saved to the study file. There is no
save command.
The large rectangular box just above the key counters may be used to type
notes about the session. This text is printed when you select Print Summary
from the File menu.
A session is a logical group of several trials. A session is identified
by a session number that is stored in the trial. There is no restriction
about how many trials or subjects belong to one session and the session
number may be edited.
Score uses session numbers in a few special circumstances. The View menu
allows you to view only trials belonging to the current session. The Print
Summary item of the File menu prints all trials of the current session.
The Archive Session item prevents you from accidentally modifying data in
the trials of the current session. You may later edit a trial that has been
archived by selecting Edit Trial.
Before you start another session, you may print a summary of the current
session. This summary is used for archival purposes.
This is a study window. The window reflects the information in a study
file. A study window and a study file are tied together.
Session # Recording sessions are serial numbered. You
can edit the session number.
Trial # Trials are serial numbered from the beginning of
the file. If a trial is deleted, the other trials retain their old serial
number.
Date The date and time that the current Session was started.
Observer The name of the observer for this file.
Subject Gives the name of the subject observed in this
trial.
Elapsed time Shows the amount of time observations were
made for the current trial.
Remaining Shows the time remaining to record in this trial.
Notes Any notes you want to keep with this trial.
Key Counters Counts and total time for a set of predefined
keys and behaviors.
Message area Simple messages that let you know what state
the program is in.
Start button Starts a trial. The Key timers become active.
The trial timer counts down to zero. You may press one or more keys as you
observe behavior in the subject you are observing. The Start button becomes
a Stop button when recording is active.
Stop button Stops a trial. The Key timers become inactive.
The trial timer stops counting. This button is used if you are interrupted
or need to take a break. Press the Start button to continue counting.
Scroll bar The Scroll bar allows you to view any session
in the current study. We call the viewed session the "current session".
The most recent session is called the "last session". Only the
last session may be used to record observations. The other sessions are
always archived.
Contact Larry Woltz.