Chapter 7. Keylogging
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Ricardo Muñoz Martín
Abstract
Keystroke logging, or keylogging, is a powerful research method for collecting unobtrusive, fine-grained data on text production processes. In cognitive translation and interpreting studies (CTIS), keyloggers like Translog-II and Inputlog capture the dynamics of translation behavior, including pauses, revisions, information searching, and typing patterns, which enrich language data and timestamp it, down to the millisecond. Keylogging data enables researchers to infer underlying cognitive processes, compare translator expertise levels, and assess task difficulty. This chapter provides an overview of keylogging research in CTIS, covering its conceptual basis, key variables, ethical considerations, analytical methods, and limitations. It emphasizes the need for ecological validity, standardized metrics, and thorough reporting in keylogging studies. Future applications may expand to multimodal translation, collaborative workflows, and integration with sensor technologies.
Abstract
Keystroke logging, or keylogging, is a powerful research method for collecting unobtrusive, fine-grained data on text production processes. In cognitive translation and interpreting studies (CTIS), keyloggers like Translog-II and Inputlog capture the dynamics of translation behavior, including pauses, revisions, information searching, and typing patterns, which enrich language data and timestamp it, down to the millisecond. Keylogging data enables researchers to infer underlying cognitive processes, compare translator expertise levels, and assess task difficulty. This chapter provides an overview of keylogging research in CTIS, covering its conceptual basis, key variables, ethical considerations, analytical methods, and limitations. It emphasizes the need for ecological validity, standardized metrics, and thorough reporting in keylogging studies. Future applications may expand to multimodal translation, collaborative workflows, and integration with sensor technologies.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acronyms vii
- List of contributors xiii
- Introduction 1
- Chapter 1. Participant profiling 21
- Chapter 2. Designing studies with naturalistic tasks 49
- Chapter 3. Surveys and interviews 69
- Chapter 4. Cued retrospection 92
- Chapter 5. Observations and diaries 108
- Chapter 6. Screen recording 133
- Chapter 7. Keylogging 157
- Chapter 8. Speech recording 183
- Chapter 9. Screen eyetracking 213
- Chapter 10. Dynamic eyetracking 235
- Chapter 11. Psychophysiological methods 256
- Chapter 12. Electroencephalography 279
- Chapter 13. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) 304
- Chapter 14. Reaction time 324
- Index 347
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acronyms vii
- List of contributors xiii
- Introduction 1
- Chapter 1. Participant profiling 21
- Chapter 2. Designing studies with naturalistic tasks 49
- Chapter 3. Surveys and interviews 69
- Chapter 4. Cued retrospection 92
- Chapter 5. Observations and diaries 108
- Chapter 6. Screen recording 133
- Chapter 7. Keylogging 157
- Chapter 8. Speech recording 183
- Chapter 9. Screen eyetracking 213
- Chapter 10. Dynamic eyetracking 235
- Chapter 11. Psychophysiological methods 256
- Chapter 12. Electroencephalography 279
- Chapter 13. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) 304
- Chapter 14. Reaction time 324
- Index 347
