The sounds of social life: Naturalistic (acoustic) observation sampling

Matthias Mehl, Fenne Große Deters

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper reviews a novel methodology called the Electronically Activated Recorder or EAR. The EAR is a portable audio recorder that periodically records snippets of ambient sounds from participants' momentary environments. In tracking moment-to-moment ambient sounds, it yields acoustic logs of people's days as they naturally unfold. In sampling only a fraction of the time, it protects participants' privacy. As a naturalistic observation method, it provides an observer's account of daily life and is optimized for the assessment of audible aspects of social environments, behaviors, and interactions. The paper discusses the EAR method conceptually and methodologically and identifies three ways in which it can enrich research in psychology and related fields. Specifically, it can (1) provide ecological, behavioral criteria that are independent of self-report, (2) calibrate psychological effects against frequencies of real-world behavior, and (3) help with the assessment of subtle and habitual behaviors that evade self-report.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationMM'11 - Proceedings of the 2011 ACM Multimedia Conference and Co-Located Workshops - JHGBU 2011 Workshop, J-HGBU'11
Pages1-5
Number of pages5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011
Event2011 ACM Multimedia Conference, MM'11 and Co-Located Workshops - 2011 Joint ACM Workshop on Human Gesture and Behavior Understanding, J-HGBU'11 - Scottsdale, AZ, United States
Duration: Nov 28 2011Dec 1 2011

Publication series

NameMM'11 - Proceedings of the 2011 ACM Multimedia Conference and Co-Located Workshops - JHGBU 2011 Workshop, J-HGBU'11

Other

Other2011 ACM Multimedia Conference, MM'11 and Co-Located Workshops - 2011 Joint ACM Workshop on Human Gesture and Behavior Understanding, J-HGBU'11
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityScottsdale, AZ
Period11/28/1112/1/11

Keywords

  • Ecological momentary assessment
  • Electronically activated recorder
  • Social environment
  • Social interaction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Human Factors and Ergonomics

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