Course syllabus for Observation and Documentation

Observation och dokumentation

Versions of this syllabus:

Spring 2026

Essential data

Course code: 2LG073
Course name: Observation and Documentation
Credits: 3
Form of Education: Higher education, study regulation of 2007
Main field of study: Not applicable
Level: GX - First cycle
Grading scale: Fail (U) or pass (G)
Department: Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology
Decided by: Finalized by: 2025-10-13, Utbildningsnämnden CLINTEC
Decision date: 2025-10-13
Revised by: Education committee CLINTEC
Course syllabus valid from: Spring semester 2026

Specific entry requirements

For admission to semester 2 apply that student may remain with no more than 15 credits from previous semester in The Study Programme in Speech-Language Pathology

Outcomes

On completion of the course, the student is expected to be able to:

  • plan and implement documentation of communicative situations by means of instrumental methods (video and sound recordings) and non-instrumental methods
  • handle collected material in a correct way and discuss ethical aspects of video and sound recordings
  • use relevant terminology and relevant tools to process, annotate and analyse video and sound recordings

Content

The course gives an overview of use of video and sound recordings for observation and documentation. Different types of observation techniques and non-instrumental methods for documentation of communicative behaviours are discussed. The course includes activities concerning recording technology and the students will also carry out own observations and recordings in the field.
The course also gives experience in software for processing, annotation and analysis of video and sound recordings. Furthermore it includes research ethics and other ethical aspects regarding recordings and the role as an observer.

Teaching methods

The education consists of lectures and image seminars. Furthermore, observations and recordings outside of timetabled time are included.

The examiner decides if, and how, absence from compulsory parts can be compensated. Study results cannot be reported until the student has participated in compulsory course elements or compensated for any absence in accordance with instructions from the examiner. Absence from a compulsory educational component may mean that the student cannot take the opportunity until the next time the course is given.

Examination

The course is examined through an individual written assignment, and joint written assignments.

Students who do not pass a regular examination are entitled to re-sit the examination on five more occasions. The second examination is the following regular examination in the course. If the student has failed six examinations/tests, no additional examination is given. Each occasion the student participates in the same test counts as an examination. Submission of a blank exam paper is regarded as an examination. In case a student is registered for an examination but does not attend, this is not regarded as an examination.

In case of the existence of special reasons, or need for adaptation for a student with a disability, the examiner may decide to depart from the syllabus's regulations on examination form, number of examination opportunities, possibility of completion or exemption from compulsory educational elements, etc. Content and intended learning outcomes as well as the level of expected skills, knowledge and abilities must not be altered, removed or lowered.

Transitional provisions

The examination can be carried out according to an earlier literature list during a period of one year after the date of a renewal of the literature list. Students will be allowed to take the examination up to one year after the closing of the course.

Other directives

The course is given as principal rule in English but can be given completely or partly in Swedish if the circumstances admit it.

The course is carried out by The Department of Linguistics, Stockholm University, where all teaching in the course is also given.

Course evaluation will be carried out according to the guidelines that are established by the Committee for education of basic and second cycle.

The course cannot be credited in a degree together with another course the student has completed and passed which completely or partly corresponds to the contents of this course.

Literature and other teaching aids

Mandatory literature

Another additional 50 pages (maximum) may be added per teachers' recommendations.

Further reading

  • Svec, JG; Granqvist, S, Guidelines for selecting microphones for human voice production research, 2010 Ingår i: American journal of speech-language pathology [Elektronisk resurs]., Rockville, Md. : American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, ISSN: 1558-9110, LIBRIS-ID: 11338519, 19 (2010) : 4, s. 356-358,
  • The softest sound levels of the human voice in normal subjects, Sramkova, H; Granqvist, S; Herbst, CT; Svec, JG, 2015 Ingår i: The journal of the Acoustical Society of America., New York : American Institute of Physics for the Acoustical Society of America, 1929- ISSN: 0001-4966, LIBRIS-ID: 3402251, 137 (2015) : 1, s. 407-418,
  • Styler, W, Using Praat for Linguistic Research, (2023 eller senare), University of Michigan Linguistics, https://wstyler.ucsd.edu/praat/.
  • User Guide for ELAN Linguistic Annotator., The Language Archive, MPI for Psycholinguistics (2025 eller senare), The Netherlands, https://www.mpi.nl/tools/elan/docs/manual/index.html.