MING-LE

MING-LE (Meaningful Interaction in Non-formal Gatherings – Logging Engagement) is an observation protocol designed to enable systematic studies of engagement in informal social settings. Such environments can be challenging to evaluate using traditional research methods, as interactions are often spontaneous, short-lived, and situated in complex physical surroundings. MING-LE was developed to provide both researchers and practitioners with a shared language and method for describing, analyzing, and comparing how engagement takes shape in these situations.

The protocol is inspired by established observation methods in psychology, interaction design, and educational psychology, but has been adapted to capture the mobility, diversity, and social dynamics that characterize informal gatherings. MING-LE can be used in a wide range of contexts – from museum exhibitions and cultural festivals to civic dialogues, school activities, and interactive installations – and is designed to allow observations to be repeated and compared across locations or over time.

The goal is not to measure engagement as a static state, but to make visible the patterns that emerge when people interact with one another and with their surroundings. By combining structured quantitative observation with qualitative reflection, MING-LE provides a rich picture of both how much and how participants engage. In this way, the protocol serves as a tool for both scientific analysis and the practical development of social and cultural environments.

Overview of the MING-LE Protocol

MING-LE is an observation protocol developed to systematically study engagement in informal social contexts, such as exhibitions, festivals, fairs, and other public events. The protocol combines structured observations with qualitative reflections to capture both the extent and nature of participant engagement.

Structured observations are conducted using the principle of momentary time sampling, where the observer records participants’ behavior at predetermined intervals in one of three categories: Engaged, Neutral, or Disengaged. This is complemented by a short qualitative summary describing how engagement was expressed, what factors seemed to influence it, and how different participants or environments contributed to variations.

MING-LE is intended to be used in multiple locations within an event or at repeated times over a longer period, making it possible to compare different environments, changes, or design solutions. In this way, the protocol offers a systematic yet flexible method for understanding social engagement in real-world environments.

Purpose of the MING-LE Protocol

The purpose of MING-LE is to create a reliable and practically useful tool for observing and analyzing social engagement in informal settings, where other types of measurement, such as surveys or interviews, are often less suitable.

The protocol is designed to be used by both researchers and practitioners, with slightly different emphases. For researchers, MING-LE offers a method for empirically studying social interaction and engagement in natural environments, and for generating comparable data over time and across different contexts. For practitioners, the protocol serves as a tool for reflection and development, where observations can be used to evaluate how different parts of an event, an installation, or an environment support or hinder participant engagement.

Overall, MING-LE aims to deepen the understanding of how social environments can be designed to spark, support, and sustain engagement.

How MING-LE Is Used

A MING-LE observation begins with planning which locations and situations to observe, based on the question or hypothesis being investigated. For each event, it is recommended to observe five to six different situations; for example, different booths, areas, or specific activities.

Each observation is conducted over five minutes and divided into ten intervals of thirty seconds each. During each interval, the observer scans the defined area and makes an instantaneous judgment of each participant’s level of engagement, categorized as Engaged, Neutral, or Disengaged. These assessments are recorded in the observation protocol, and a timer is used to ensure consistent intervals between observations.

After each structured observation, a brief qualitative summary is written, where the observer describes how engagement was expressed, what environmental factors appeared to influence it, and what patterns could be identified among participants. Once all observations are completed, an overall reflection is conducted, combining both quantitative and qualitative findings. Observations are then repeated in a new round to strengthen reliability and allow comparisons over time.

Taken together, this procedure provides a clear and repeatable method for documenting, analyzing, and reflecting on social engagement in dynamic, real-world settings.

Link to the MING-LE observation protocol (in Swedish) pdf, 808 kB.