PatternVision Data Exchange Program

Noldus Information Technology is pleased to announce the release of the PatternVision Data Exchange Program (DEP). With the DEP, an accurate conversion of data from The Observer XT to Theme for extensive analysis has become much easier. The DEP is a simple and straightforward program that converts exported files from The Observer XT 7.0, 8.0, and 9.0 (.ODX files) to text files that Theme can then import. The DEP and manual are available for FREE to Theme users on the Theme download site of the Noldus webpage.

Theme detects patterns in your data that you would not have thought existed. Pattern detection works best on continuously scored events, such as the data produced by The Observer XT.

How does Theme work?
Theme uses a unique algorithm that searches for relationships between events by taking into account both the order and relative timing of these events, and their hierarchical structure. Statistics such as the number of different patterns detected in a behavioral record, their length, abundance, and number of actors involved can be used as objective measures of the level of organization or complexity of the behavior. Theme has thus allowed the discovery of hidden relationships between events as well as effects of independent variables missed by standard statistical analysis.

Reference
Magnusson MS (2000), Discovering hidden time patterns in behavior: T-patterns and their detection. Behavior, Research Methods, Instruments & Computers 32, 93-110.