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SCIENCE 2SB1

LIVELab Research Methods – Motion Capture for Research Applications

Instructor: Dr. Dan Bosnyak and Hany Tawfik, Department of Psychology, Neurology, and Behaviour – McMaster Institute for Music and the Mind (livelab@mcmaster.ca)

Location: Psychology Bullding, LIVELab – PC202A

Dates: Week of June 16, 2025 (Jun 17/18/19 tentative)

Enrolment Capacity: 5-15 students

Research Discipline: Psychology & Neuroscience

Course Rationale: We are looking to target prospective and current PNB undergraduate students with research interests to develop skills relevant to motion capture in research. Students will learn how to use our facility’s systems to collect data with the aim of rolling these skills into a project course (2QQ/3QQ) or senior thesis that will use the LIVELab research platform or similar labs conducting motion capture research.

Expandable List

Proposed Training

On day 1, students will learn the concepts of motion capture and how to apply them in a research context. For the remainder of the day students will work together to brainstorm potential research questions and view the types of data that can be collected from motion capture.

On day 2, students will learn to deploy and collect motion capture data from large & small groups of people.

On day 3, they will work on labelling and analyzing these data to answer their research questions.

Learning Outcomes and Science Career Competencies 

  • Students will learn how to collaborate with a large research team and PIs to design research questions and collect motion capture data relevant to their questions.
  • Students will be required to brainstorm and consider the challenges presented when collecting such data in naturalistic and dynamic settings, such as live events, which require them to adapt to spontaneous changes or problems.

How Successful Learning Outcomes Are Determined

  • Students will be asked to apply their knowledge from the workshop with a culminating task of deploying equipment and collecting motion capture data in a simulated live event (or similar) setting.
  • Students will also be asked to demonstrate their knowledge through group discussions of learnings and next steps, as well as research questions they could answer in the future using the LIVELab. Students will prepare a written learning relection and submit it to the OUR.

Required Components for Passing Grade

  • Attend three 4-hour sessions and participate actively in activities.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of motion capture in research through both their written reflection and oral group discussions.

Required lab safety trainings as per McMaster UHS. PSYCH 1X03 minimum prerequisite, PSYCH 1XX3 preferred.

Students who miss sessions will be asked to book a make-up time in the LIVELab to demonstrate the required workshop competencies.

To apply for this course, please fill out the following SCIENCE 2SB1 – 1-Unit Experiential Course Application Form – Spring/Summer 2025 online.