Advancing User Research in Naturalistic Gambling Environments Through Behaviour Tracking. A Pilot Study

User research has widely employed ethnography to gain insights into the player-gaming terminal interaction in naturalistic gambling settings. However, inconsistencies in operationalisation and a lack of rigour in research procedures have been identified as limitations. In this paper, we address these issues by first advocating for the use of behavioural recording technology to support user research. We present a set of quantitative metrics extracted from non-invasive techniques, including video and audio recordings, that capture facial expressions, paralinguistic cues, proxemics, kinesics, and interactive haptic behaviours. Next, we examine the expert evaluation process as a structured analysis framework, including the mapping of environmental variables, the transparent and reproducible operationalization of a research protocol, and the interpretation of data. A pilot study is presented to provide practical guidelines for conducting user research in natural gambling environments. Our findings contribute to user research methodologies and highlight the potential advantages of the proposed approach, including its applicability, ethical considerations, and reliability.