Data collection

This is a page to add advice about specific guides for data recording, equipment and collection based on a document circulated by Ruth Parry: Conversation analysis and Clinical Encounters Conference York 2013 Report from a Knowledge sharing workshop: Tools, techniques, tips, processes, software, hardware.

What's on your packing list?

• Camera(s)
• SD flash memory cards (SDHD = high capacity SD)
• Camera clamp/pole/tripod etc.
• Wide angle lens
• Mic(s)
• Mic stand
• Digital voice recorder for back up
• Headphones
• Bulldog clips, duct tape
• Spare batteries
• Consent forms, record forms

Camera(s)

Things to consider when selecting cameras:

• Bring one or more cameras?
• External power supply? (ideally don't run them on batteries)
• Fish eye / wide angle lens recommended
• Headphone jack for monitoring audio recording?
• External mic jack?
• Remote on/off control can be useful
• Lens cap you can put on to record sound only

Camera Storage media

• Don't go for direct to DVD (they are trouble!)
• Go for high definition + records onto SD card
• They tend to record to their own proprietary formats
• JVC records to an MPEG4 which houses an MPEG2, Canon records to MTS files
• They all need converting (encoding) into a format you can play, edit, and that works with your analysis software
• CLAN, ELAN (?transana) work well with MPEG2

Other camera ideas

• Camera you can turn into a player that projects onto the wall (show participants straight away)
• Eg. Sony

Camera recommendations / notes

• Canon Legria HF G25: http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Camcorders/High_Definition_HD/LEGRIA_HF_R406/
  • For this camera you will need a wide angle lens for adequate capture in most environments: Canon make one, but it is expensive. A good compromise is the following, which is good quality Helder MW-4558 58mm HD 0.45x Wide Angle Conversion Lens: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/758310-REG/Helder_mw_4558_Wide_Angle_Lens_Converter.html
  • Possibly hard to find now: Canon Legria JF S200: http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Camcorders/High_Definition_HD/LEGRIA_HF_S200/
  • The Canons have default sound settings not ideal for our kind of work, so you MUST follow this tutorial from ‘UKAirscape’ if you want good sound https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVHNe-6runQ

Credits

© Ruth Parry with thanks also to Nick Wood and Mark Dingemanse, MPI Nijmegen and folks who responded to email and languse queries Glenys Caswell, Paul Cibulka, Shannon Clarke, Virginia Teas Gill, Spencer Hazel, John Heritage, Kristian Pollock, Liz Stokoe.