The study begins with a meeting between the researcher and the participating family, during which the content of the study and the details of data collection are agreed upon and planned individually with the participants. During this meeting, consent is also discussed in an age-appropriate way, taking into account any special needs or groups.
Data collection involves a one-week (seven days) period during which the researcher visits the participants’ home daily and sets up 6–10 video cameras and microphones in different rooms. The cameras record around the clock, as in families with young children, a lot of interaction can occur at night, which previous research has largely overlooked. Participants can turn off the cameras at any time, request that the researcher delete specific recorded interactional situations, or withdraw from the study entirely. The practical arrangements of the video recordings are individually organised with the participants, and rest days can be scheduled during the recording week if needed.
As a rule, the researcher is not present in the participants’ home during the video recordings. However, the study week includes one (1) day of observant participation, during which the researcher is present the family’s daily life. Observation does not occur at night. After the observation, the researcher takes notes on their observations. The observation day is also video recorded.
After the recording week, the researchers review the collected data, and approximately a month later, interviews are conducted with the family. During the interview, family members watch excerpts of the video recordings from their daily life, and have a discussion with the researchers: what happened from the participants’ perspective and what feelings and thoughts the videos evoke. The interviews are also video recorded.