Abstract
This article outlines how a Palm- or Newton-based PDA (personal digital assistant) system for online event recording was used to record and analyze concurrent events. We describe the features of this PDA-based system, called the FIT-System (flexible interface technique), and its application to the analysis of concurrent events in complex behavioral processes—in this case, anesthesia work processes. The patented FIT-System has a unique user interface design allowing the user to design an interface template with a pencil and paper or using a transparency film. The template usually consists of a drawing or sketch that includes icons or symbols that depict the observer’s representation of the situation to be observed. In this study, the FIT-System allowed us to create a design for fast, intuitive online recording of concurrent events using a set of 41 observation codes. An analysis of concurrent events leads to a description of action density, and our results revealed a characteristic distribution of action density during the administration of anesthesia in the operating room. This distribution indicated the central role of the overlapping operations in the action sequences of medical professionals as they deal with the varying requirements of this complex task. We believe that the FIT-System for online recording of concurrent events in complex behavioral processes has the potential to be useful across a broad spectrum of research areas.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bakeman, R., &Gottman, J. M. (1997).Observing interaction: An introduction to sequential analysis (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Cohen, J. (1960). Coefficient of agreement for nominal scales.Educational & Psychological Measurement,20, 37–46.
Cole, M. (1996).Cultural psychology. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Engeström, Y. (1987).Learning by expanding: An activity-theoretical approach to developmental research. Helsinki: Orienta-Konsultit.
Fuhrer, U. (1984).Mehrfachhandeln in dynamischen Umfeldern: Vorschläge zu einer systematischen Erweiterung psychologischhandlungstheoretischer Modelle. Göttingen: Hogrefe.
Gaba, D. M., &Lee, T. (1990). Measuring the workload of the anesthesiologist.Anesthesia & Analgesia,71, 354–361.
Held, J. (1999). Fitting the mental model: A new technique for computerised event recording. In D. Harris (Ed.),Engineering psychology and cognitive ergonomics (pp. 293–300). London: Ashgate.
Held, J. (2003). Method and device for manual recording of various events or states. U.S. Patent No. 6525712B1.
Held, J., Brüesch, M., Zollinger, A., Pasch, T., &Krueger, H. (2002). Beteiligungsorientierte Arbeitsanalyse [Participation-oriented work analysis].Anaesthesist,51, 110–115.
International Organization for Standardization (1999). Human-centred design processes for interactive systems (ISO 13407). Geneva: Author.
Kaminski, G. (1973). Bewegungshandlungen als Bewältigung von Mehrfachaufgaben.Sportwissenschaft,3, 233–250.
Kennedy, P. J., Feingold, A., Wiener, E. L., &Hosek, R. S. (1976). Analysis of tasks and human factors in anesthesia for coronary-artery bypass.Anesthesia & Analgesia,55, 374–377.
Kerguelen, A. (1999).ActoPalm 1.0 pour PalmPilot [Technical note]. Université de Toulouse-Le Mirail, Laboratoire Travail et Cognition.
Manser, T. (2002).Dichte als Texturmerkmal komplexer Arbeitstätigkeiten: Zur Analyse von Überlagerungen im Handlungsverlauf am Beispiel der Narkoseführung. Zürich: Zentralstelle der Studentenschaft der Universität Zürich.
Manser, T. (2003). Dichte als Merkmal komplexer Arbeitstätigkeiten. In T. Manser (Ed.),Komplexes Handeln in der Anästhesie (pp. 100–174). Pabst: Lengrich.
Manser, T., &Wehner, T. (2002). Analysing action sequences: Variations in action density in the administration of anesthesia.Cognition, Technology, & Work,4, 71–81.
Noro, K., &Imada, A. (1991).Participatory ergonomics. London: Taylor & Francis.
Tschan, F. (1990).Organisationen als sich zielgerichtet verhaltende Systeme: Entwicklung eines theoriegeleiteten Beschreibungssystems im Rahmen einer Fallstudie. Unpublished dissertation, Universität Bern.
Weinger, M. B., Herndon, O. W., &Gaba, D. M. (1997). The effect of electronic record keeping and transesophageal echocardiography on task distribution, workload, and vigilance during cardiac anesthesia.Anesthesiology,87, 144–155.
Weinger, M. B., Herndon, O. W., Zornow, M. H.,Paulus, M. P., Gaba, D. M., &Dallen, L. T. (1994). An objective methodology for task analysis and workload assessment in anesthesia providers.Anesthesiology,80, 77–92.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
The FIT-System PDA software is commercially available for Palm OS (trademark of PalmSource, Inc.) versions 3.0 and higher. Data transfer requires FIT-System PC software that is available for Windows OS (trademark of Microsoft, Inc.) versions 95 and higher.
Note—This article was accepted by the previous editor, Jonathan Vaughan.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Held, J., Manser, T. A PDA-based system for online recording and analysis of concurrent events in complex behavioral processes. Behavior Research Methods 37, 155–164 (2005). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03206410
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03206410