cometrics: A New Software Tool for Behavior-analytic Clinicians and Machine Learning Researchers

Area of Science:

• Clinical Informatics
• Behavioral Science
• Data Acquisition Technology

Background:

• Accurate data collection is crucial in clinical research and practice.
• Existing tools may lack integrated features for various data types (behavioral, physiological, video).
• Streamlining data management and analysis enhances research efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce Cometrics, a novel clinical tool for comprehensive data collection.
• To highlight Cometrics' capabilities in recording diverse data streams and facilitating analysis.
• To provide a free, accessible software solution for researchers and clinicians.

Main Methods:

• Cometrics software records frequency- and duration-based target behaviors and physiological signals.
• It supports real-time video capture and import of saved video for retroactive analysis.
• Data is exported to Microsoft Excel-compatible keystroke files for easy management.
• Integrated interobserver agreement metrics are calculated and exported to spreadsheets.

Main Results:

• Cometrics enables simultaneous collection of behavioral, physiological, and video data.
• The software automates data export into a unified spreadsheet format.
• Interobserver agreement metrics can be readily computed and reviewed.
• User interface manages file system operations, simplifying workflow.

Conclusions:

• Cometrics offers a robust, user-friendly solution for clinical data collection and analysis.
• Its free availability and open-source nature promote wider adoption in research.
• The software enhances the efficiency and accuracy of observational and physiological data recording.