# Observation Protocol

**Study:** Desirable Difficulty — Behavioral Design for Health Compliance  
**Version:** 1.0  
**Date:** 2024-02-21

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## Purpose

Observe coffee-making sessions during the intervention phase (Weeks 3–6) to:

1. Assess skill acquisition and mastery progression
2. Identify friction points and frustration signals
3. Capture sensory engagement (ritual value)
4. Cross-validate diary self-reports

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## Session Schedule

- **Frequency:** 2 sessions per week during intervention (Weeks 3–6)
- **Total sessions:** 8
- **Duration:** ~15 minutes per session (includes setup/debrief)
- **Timing:** Morning cup preferred (highest habitual value)

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## Consent

### Before First Session

Obtain signed consent covering:

- [x] Video recording of coffee-making process
- [x] Audio capture of ambient sound and verbal comments
- [x] Use of edited clips in portfolio (face obscured if requested)
- [x] Data retention period (delete raw video after analysis complete)
- [x] Right to withdraw at any time

**Consent form:** `consent_observation.pdf`

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## Recording Setup

- **Camera position:** Fixed angle showing hands, pour-over equipment, cup
- **Frame:** Exclude face unless explicitly consented
- **Audio:** Capture ambient (grinder, water, verbal reactions)
- **Duration:** Start when participant approaches equipment; stop when first sip taken

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## Coding Rubric

After each session, code the recording using this rubric.

### Behavioral Codes

| Code             | Definition                                           | Signal                    |
| ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------- |
| **HESITATION**   | Pause >3 sec before action, visible uncertainty      | Friction / learning curve |
| **CORRECTION**   | Restart or redo a step                               | Error recovery            |
| **FRUSTRATION**  | Verbal sigh, expletive, visible tension              | Negative friction         |
| **FLOW**         | Smooth continuous movement through steps             | Mastery emerging          |
| **ENGAGEMENT**   | Leaning in, focused attention, no distraction        | Ritual value              |
| **SENSORY**      | Inhaling, smelling, visual inspection of bloom       | Sensory engagement        |
| **SATISFACTION** | Smile, verbal approval, relaxed posture at first sip | Positive outcome          |
| **RUSH**         | Skipping steps, checking phone/time, multitasking    | Low engagement            |

### Timing Codes

| Metric     | How to measure                     |
| ---------- | ---------------------------------- |
| Total time | Equipment approach → first sip     |
| Grind time | Start grinding → grounds in filter |
| Bloom time | First pour → second pour begins    |
| Pour time  | Second pour → drawdown complete    |

### Notes Field

Free-text observations not captured by codes. Examples:

- "Commented that the smell is 'the best part'"
- "Phone rang; ignored it until pour complete"
- "Weighed beans twice; seemed unsure of amount"

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## Session Debrief (2 minutes)

Immediately after recording:

1. "How did that one feel?"
2. "Anything different from last time?"
3. "Rate this cup 1–5 before you taste it."

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## Cross-Validation

Compare observation data to diary entries for same day:

- Does diary cup count match observed behavior?
- Does diary satisfaction match observed satisfaction code?
- Flag discrepancies for weekly interview follow-up

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## Data Storage

| Artifact      | Format | Retention                   |
| ------------- | ------ | --------------------------- |
| Raw video     | .mp4   | Delete after final analysis |
| Coded rubric  | .csv   | Retain anonymized           |
| Session notes | .md    | Retain anonymized           |
| Consent form  | .pdf   | Retain 3 years              |

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## Completed Sessions Log

| Session | Date       | Week | Duration | Key Observations                             |
| ------- | ---------- | ---- | -------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| 1       | 2024-01-15 | 3    | 8:42     | High HESITATION, 2x CORRECTION, no FLOW      |
| 2       | 2024-01-17 | 3    | 7:55     | FRUSTRATION verbal ("this is too much work") |
| 3       | 2024-01-22 | 4    | 6:30     | First FLOW sequence observed                 |
| 4       | 2024-01-24 | 4    | 6:12     | SENSORY strong (bloom inhale), SATISFACTION  |
| 5       | 2024-01-29 | 5    | 5:58     | ENGAGEMENT high, zero HESITATION             |
| 6       | 2024-01-31 | 5    | 5:45     | Commented "I look forward to this now"       |
| 7       | 2024-02-05 | 6    | 5:52     | Full FLOW, SENSORY, SATISFACTION             |
| 8       | 2024-02-07 | 6    | 5:48     | Fastest session; mastery evident             |