Behavioral Coding · Video Analysis · macOS + Windows · Python · GDPR-Compliant Whisper AI
Behavioral Coding Software: Limited Only by Your Research Question
Trusted by several thousand researchers worldwide for more than 35 years, including at 80 of the world's top 100 universities.
The tool is half the work
Paper and Pencil Passed Peer Review. That Doesn't Make Them the Best Instrument.
Every study builds on the ones before it. Often the method section of the key papers says the behavior was coded by hand or tallied in a spreadsheet, and that becomes the benchmark.
But the tool is half the work. With paper, pencil and spreadsheets, every phase of data collection and analysis becomes unnecessarily complicated and error-prone. Time goes into recording, organizing data, securing data quality and analysis, all of which a tool built for the job provides out of the box.
And startup funds or grants are spent once: the tools your lab adopts now will shape its work for years.
Why Researchers Trust Mangold INTERACT
Built for observational research by people who understand its complex challenges
We know the methodological and technical challenges of analyzing audio and video recordings. That's why Mangold INTERACT adapts to the method your research question calls for, not the other way around. Several thousand researchers worldwide have relied on it for more than 35 years. Research tools that don't deliver don't last that long.
35+ Years of Continuous Development
Mangold International has been developing Mangold INTERACT in-house since 1991, guided by its own scientific advisory board and continuously refined through feedback from users across a wide range of disciplines.
Proven in Demanding Research Environments
Several thousand researchers in more than 50 countries work with Mangold INTERACT, including at 80 of the world's top 100 universities.
Made in Germany, Direct Manufacturer Support
No call center, no ticket system and no reseller in between. You reach the people who build the software, in various languages.
Mangold Scientific Service
Almost every study reaches a point where methodological support makes the difference. With the Scientific Service, you get personal guidance on study design, data collection and analysis, in addition to software updates and technical support.
What Researchers Say About Mangold INTERACT
Ruth Feldman, Prof. Ph.D.
Best Female Scientist 2022, Expertscape World Expert, Herzlia Israel
" Our experience with INTERACT was excellent. The software is friendly, intuitive to use, gives precise results and supports comprehensive behavioral pattern analysis. "
Heather Henderson, Prof. Ph.D.
University of Waterloo, Canada
" INTERACT has revolutionized our approach to data analysis, ensuring precision and real-time adaptability. "
Jana Uher, ao. Prof. Ph.D.
Freie Universität Berlin, DE
" The coding software INTERACT from Mangold proved to be extremely useful and efficient for detailed videotape analysis of individual differences in the great apes. "
Dr. Shane Rogers, Ph.D.
Edith Cowan University, Australia
" Mangold INTERACT on the other hand, runs smooth as butter in all aspects - playing videos, coding, statistics, and visualizations. "
Catherine Tamis-LeMonda, Prof. Ph.D.
New York University
" The INTERACT Software is flexible, user friendly and rich in its capabilities. But, more importantly, the support staff at Mangold is unparalleled. "
Why Researchers Choose Mangold International
Cross-Platform: Native macOS and Windows Support
Research teams often work in parallel on Windows and macOS. Mangold INTERACT runs natively on both platforms with 100% data compatibility – one license covers both, making it ideal for mixed Mac/PC teams.
Open Architecture with Python Integration
Mangold INTERACT offers Python integration for custom analysis workflows – researchers can tap into thousands of scientific libraries and embed their own analytical logic directly into the toolchain.
A Complete Toolset in a Single Application
Coding, data management, multimodal data synchronization, inter-rater reliability, state-space grids, lag sequential analysis and contingency analysis – all in one tool.
Expert Guidance, Not Just a Software License
Mangold International staff understand observational research. They speak the language of researchers – sequence analysis, dyadic interaction, coding schemes – and actively contribute to research projects when questions arise.
How to get started
Three Steps from Your Coding Scheme to Your First Results
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Bring the coding scheme from your literature.
Event sampling, time sampling or continuous coding: Mangold INTERACT applies the scheme your field already uses, so your approach stays comparable to the studies you build on.
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See it applied to your own video material.
In a free demo, we help you code and transcribe a sample of your own recordings using your coding scheme. See for yourself whether INTERACT fits before you decide.
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Write Mangold INTERACT into your proposal or startup budget.
One license covers both macOS and Windows. Online tutorials and training materials help your team get started within days.
Your Method Sets the Rules. The Tool Follows.
Coding, transcription, pattern search, reliability checks and analysis in one program.
Your Coding Scheme Stays Yours
Your approach remains comparable to the studies you build on. Create and manage individual coding schemes of almost any size and complexity to meet your specific data collection and coding needs.
No Manual Video Syncing
The time you save goes into research instead of file handling. Code multiple simultaneous audio and video files with automatic temporal coherence.
Complex Questions Become Answerable
Questions you would have dropped as too laborious stay in the study. Powerful data restructuring and advanced analysis options are tailored to your research needs.
New Team Members Productive Within Days
Your method stays stable across changing staff. Extensive software documentation, training videos and direct support from Mangold International get your team to results quickly.
Where it is used
Built for every behavioral research paradigm.
Mangold INTERACT adapts to the method your research question calls for, not the other way around. Your sampling method and your codes set the rules, from infant interaction to clinical populations and human factors.
Developmental psychology
Mother-child and parent-infant interaction coding
Neuroscience & physiology
Sync video with EEG, ECG, and sensor streams
Animal behavior
Field and lab-based ethology
UX & human factors
Usability testing, interaction and task analysis
Classroom research
Teacher-student interaction and learning behavior
Weeks of hand coding aren't part of the method. They're a side effect of the wrong tools.
Mangold INTERACT keeps your data organized while you code it, with frame-accurate timestamps and your own coding scheme.
Unlimited Coding and Transcription
Code your audio/video recordings based on your individual coding schemes and capture transcriptions in practically limitless scope for any time period of your observation material.
Multiple Sampling Methods
Easily adapt the data acquisition to the current codes and observation conditions by combining time and event sampling, ad libitum, continuous, scan or one-zero sampling and variants as required.
Synchronous Media Handling
Code several simultaneously recorded audio and video files at the same time, while Mangold INTERACT ensures the temporal coherence of the different media.
Discover Insights by Connecting Data That Seemed Unrelated
Inter-rater reliability such as Cohen's kappa, lag sequential analysis and state-space grids are part of the program, not a separate project.
Comprehensive Analysis Tools
Explore your data through flexible data combinations, state-space-grids, timeline charts, lag sequential analysis and more.
Combine Qualitative and Quantitative Data
Combine qualitative observations with quantitative data like physiological measurements to reveal deeper patterns.
Custom Scientific Analysis
Perform specialised scientific data analysis tailored to your research using Python integration and custom workflows.
Ask More of the Data You Already Have
Reanalyze your material without collecting it again. Use the extensive data restructuring functions and analysis options in Mangold INTERACT and gain new insights from originally simple observation data.
Easily merge, combine and rename collected data
Perform classical sequence analysis
Search for code sequences / patterns
Use contingency analysis
Analyze observer agreement
And much more...
One Method, Reproducible Across Your Whole Team
Standardize your research process with Mangold INTERACT's workflows, and go further with the built-in Python integration.
Design Custom Analysis Workflows
Create tailored workflows for your standard analysis routines to derive unique insights from your data.
Seamless Data Exchange
Easily import and export data to collaborate with colleagues or integrate data from and into your individual chain of tools.
The Sky is the Limit
Use Python to create your own workflow, giving you the freedom to perform almost any data manipulation and analysis.
Mangold INTERACT Packages
Every package codes with your own scheme. Choose the analysis depth your research question calls for.
Basic
The comprehensive 360° software solution for data collection, dynamic visualization and data refinement. Get a full-circle tool for every stage of your research process.
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Full Featured Audio/Video Coding ...
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Synchronized Media Handling
Observe and manage audio and video footage with a wide range of control and synchronization options.
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Flexible Data Collection
Benefit from efficient a-hoc and post-hoc data collection, supporting all major sampling methods.
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Powerful Analysis
Gain insight with a wide range of descriptive statistics, by finding co-occurrences, code latencies, and contingencies.
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Advanced Data Transformation
Transform your data to gain new insights by connecting originally unrelated data.
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Powerful Visualizations
Explore data with powerful visualizations, such as timeline charts and state-space grids.
Professional
More options including sequence analysis, additional visualizations, custom workflows, and a video editing module.
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Everything from Basic plus ...
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Custom Workflows
Define customised data management and analysis workflows for efficient and streamlined processes within research teams.
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Sequence and Pattern Analysis
Analyze sequences and patterns of events and their relationships with other data.
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Advanced Visualizations
Explore data with advanced visualizations, such as box plots, word clouds and sankey charts.
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Automatic Video Editing
Let Mangold INTERACT create highlight video clips based on your research data, which can easily be used for training or feedback purposes.
Premium
Offers most comprehensive features including Python integration, sensor data support, and AI-powered automatic transcription.
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Everything from Professional plus ...
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Sensor Data Integration
Synchronous visualization of numerical values alongside video recordings, such as physiological measurement data.
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AI-Powered Transcription
Secure, offline auto-transcription using Whisper, including speaker detection.
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Python Integration
Use Python for advanced, sophisticated data analysis with the built-in Python module (Requires Python knowledge).
Detailed Package Comparison
All packages code with your own scheme. The differences are in analysis depth, workflows and automation.
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Research Questions Should Be Limited by the Ideas of Researchers, Not by What Their Tools Can Do
Several thousand researchers worldwide have relied on Mangold INTERACT for more than 35 years. Many tell us after their first project: "If only I had known this earlier."
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mangold INTERACT and what is it used for?
Mangold INTERACT is a software for behavioral coding and video analysis in observational research. It enables the coding, transcription and analysis of audio and video recordings with custom coding schemes – supporting event sampling, time sampling and continuous coding across multiple synchronized audio/video files. Researchers in psychology, neuroscience, ethology, UX research, education and similar fields have relied on it for over 35 years.
Can I keep the coding scheme from published studies?
Yes. Mangold INTERACT adapts to your coding scheme and sampling method, whether event, time or continuous sampling. Your approach stays comparable to the studies you build on, while recording, reliability checks and analysis become faster and less error-prone.
Why use dedicated software instead of paper, pencil or Excel?
Paper and spreadsheets make every phase of an observational study more laborious and error-prone: recording, organizing data, checking reliability and analysis. Mangold INTERACT handles all of these in one program, with frame-accurate timestamps, inter-rater reliability such as Cohen's kappa and analyses like lag sequential analysis built in.
How does Mangold INTERACT differ from other behavioral coding tools?
Mangold INTERACT offers three structural advantages that are unique in this combination: (1) Native macOS and Windows support with 100% data compatibility – one license for mixed Mac/PC teams. (2) Python integration for custom analysis workflows with access to thousands of scientific libraries. (3) GDPR-compliant AI transcription that runs offline on your own computer – no cloud transfer of sensitive research data. Methodologically, Mangold INTERACT covers the entire research workflow in a single tool: data acquisition, data management and advanced data analysis – including state-space grids, lag sequential analysis and contingency analysis.
Is Mangold INTERACT an alternative to open-source tools?
Yes. Mangold INTERACT offers the flexibility of open-source behavioral coding tools, complemented by professional support, AI transcription, multi-data-stream synchronization (sensor data such as EEG, ECG, motion, etc.) and powerful analysis tools. Mangold International has been continuously developing Mangold INTERACT for 35+ years and additionally provides scientific guidance, training and direct points of contact – added value that is structurally missing from open-source tools. This becomes particularly relevant when complex questions about data acquisition or data analysis arise during a project, or when technical issues occur (typically: Windows / macOS / Python updates) and the software being used suddenly no longer runs smoothly mid-project.
Which video formats does Mangold INTERACT support?
Mangold INTERACT supports most common video formats, including MP4 and AVI – also recordings from smartphones, action cameras and professional equipment. Multiple video files can be played back and coded in sync, regardless of source or frame rate.
Which data modalities can I synchronize with Mangold INTERACT?
Using the Mangold DataView add-on module, Mangold INTERACT synchronizes video and audio recordings with physiological data streams such as EEG, ECG, GSR, EMG and accelerometry, or any other data stream that contains numerical values and time stamps or a known sampling rate. External data streams can be imported via standard formats such as EDF, BDF and CSV and linked precisely in time with observational data – ideal for multimodal behavioral research, when qualitative content coding is to be combined with quantitative measurement data.
How does the Whisper AI transcription in Mangold INTERACT work?
Mangold INTERACT Premium uses the Whisper AI model exclusively offline on your local computer. It does not transfer any audio data to external cloud providers, is therefore GDPR-compliant and supports speaker diarization and recognition. This allows audio and video files to be transcribed fully automatically and integrated directly into your coding analysis.
Can I calculate inter-rater reliability with Mangold INTERACT?
Yes. Mangold INTERACT includes built-in tools for calculating inter-rater reliability (IRR), enabling multiple coders to work independently on the same dataset and then compare results using standardized agreement measures such as Cohen's kappa.
Can I automate analyses in Mangold INTERACT?
Yes. Mangold INTERACT includes an integrated workflow editor for building reusable analysis routines. For advanced automation, the Python integration allows you to write custom scripts for data manipulation and analysis directly within the Mangold INTERACT environment.
Does Mangold INTERACT run on Mac?
Yes, Mangold INTERACT runs natively on macOS and Windows and offers 100% cross-platform functionality and data compatibility. A single Mangold INTERACT license can be used on both platforms, allowing you to work in a mixed system environment with Windows and macOS devices.
What licensing options are available – including for universities and students?
Mangold INTERACT is available in three packages: Basic, Professional and Premium. A free trial version can be requested. Special conditions for educational institutions and students are available on request.