title: Developing and modifying behavioral coding schemes in pediatric psychology: a practical guide.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide a concise and practical guide to the development, modification, and use of behavioral coding schemes for observational data in pediatric psychology.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article provides a review of relevant literature and experience in developing and refining behavioral coding schemes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A step-by-step guide to developing and/or modifying behavioral coding schemes is provided. Major steps include refining a research question, developing or refining the coding manual, piloting and refining the coding manual, and implementing the coding scheme. Major tasks within each step are discussed, and pediatric psychology examples are provided throughout.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Behavioral coding can be a complex and time-intensive process, but the approach is invaluable in allowing researchers to address clinically relevant research questions in ways that would not otherwise be possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Anesthesia, Centre for Pediatric Pain Research, IWK Health Centre, Departments of Anesthesia, Pain Management and Perioperative Medicine, Psychology and Neuroscience, and Surgery, Dalhousie University, Department of Psychology, Guelph University, Children's Health Research Institute, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, and Department of Psychology, Georgia State University Department of Pediatric Anesthesia, Centre for Pediatric Pain Research, IWK Health Centre, Departments of Anesthesia, Pain Management and Perioperative Medicine, Psychology and Neuroscience, and Surgery, Dalhousie University, Department of Psychology, Guelph University, Children's Health Research Institute, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, and Department of Psychology, Georgia State University Department of Pediatric Anesthesia, Centre for Pediatric Pain Research, IWK Health Centre, Departments of Anesthesia, Pain Management and Perioperative Medicine, Psychology and Neuroscience, and Surgery, Dalhousie University, Department of Psychology, Guelph University, Children's Health Research Institute, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, and Department of Psychology, Georgia State University Jill.chorney@iwk.nshealth.ca.
authors.forename: Jill MacLaren
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Chorney
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Anesthesia, Centre for Pediatric Pain Research, IWK Health Centre, Departments of Anesthesia, Pain Management and Perioperative Medicine, Psychology and Neuroscience, and Surgery, Dalhousie University, Department of Psychology, Guelph University, Children's Health Research Institute, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, and Department of Psychology, Georgia State University.
authors.forename: C Meghan
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: McMurtry
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Anesthesia, Centre for Pediatric Pain Research, IWK Health Centre, Departments of Anesthesia, Pain Management and Perioperative Medicine, Psychology and Neuroscience, and Surgery, Dalhousie University, Department of Psychology, Guelph University, Children's Health Research Institute, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, and Department of Psychology, Georgia State University Department of Pediatric Anesthesia, Centre for Pediatric Pain Research, IWK Health Centre, Departments of Anesthesia, Pain Management and Perioperative Medicine, Psychology and Neuroscience, and Surgery, Dalhousie University, Department of Psychology, Guelph University, Children's Health Research Institute, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, and Department of Psychology, Georgia State University.
authors.forename: Christine T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Anesthesia, Centre for Pediatric Pain Research, IWK Health Centre, Departments of Anesthesia, Pain Management and Perioperative Medicine, Psychology and Neuroscience, and Surgery, Dalhousie University, Department of Psychology, Guelph University, Children's Health Research Institute, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, and Department of Psychology, Georgia State University.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bakeman
mesh_terms: D000067289:Behavior Observation Techniques; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D059019:Clinical Coding / Q000145:classification / Q000379:methods*; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006801:Humans; D008370:Manuals as Topic; D002666:Psychology, Child; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
keywords: behavioral coding; observational data; research methods