2 Making observations

Once your e-SOFTA Project file (.sft) has been created, the screen is ready for rating. The video window (with stop, pause, and play controls) is on the left side of the screen, with SOFTA-o items and rating columns on the right hand side. (If you selected more than one dimension to rate in Step 1, you will see a set of tabs above the items indicating which dimension is being rated. Only one dimension can be seen on the screen at a time.)
As you observe the video, whenever you see one of the SOFTA-o behaviors listed, click on the cell next to it in the appropriate column (e.g., Father). When you click on a cell, the video automatically stops and a window opens to allow you to record comments, if desired. Type in your comments and then click on “record.”

In the sample screen below, the Safety dimension is active. Because the Grandson is “protecting himself in a nonverbal manner,” you would click on the cell for that behavioral item in the column labeled “Grandson,” and then enter a comment (if desired).

By putting the cursor over any mark already made, you can see the time-dated moment of occurrence and any comments that you previously entered. If you marked a behavioral item more than once, you will see multiple time indicators and comments.

If you make a mistake and wish to modify a mark, simply click on it, click on the correct time indicator, and then click on the trash icon.

If you are rating all four SOFTA-o dimensions simultaneously, you can simply flip back and forth between dimensions using the tabs above the behavioral items.

Any time while making observations, you can review the definitions of the four SOFTA-o dimensions and the behavioral descriptors by clicking on the Help menu, then on Descriptors.