A methodology for the capture and analysis of hybrid data: A case study of program debugging

Abstract

This article describes a methodology for the capture and analysis of hybrid data. A case study in the field of reasoning with multiple representations - specifically, in computer programming - is presented to exemplify the use of the methodology. The hybrid data considered comprise computer interaction logs, audio recordings, and data about visual attention focus. The capture of the focus of visual attention data is performed with software. The software employed tracks the user's visual attention by blurring parts of the stimuli presented on the screen and allowing the participant to see only a small region of it at any one time. These hybrid data are analyzed via a methodology that combines qualitative and quantitative approaches. The article describes the software tool employed and the analytic methodology, and also discusses data capture issues and limitations of the approach. Copyright 2007 Psychonomic Society, Inc.