Interpersonal Coordination: Methods, Achievements, and Challenges

Abstract

Research regarding interpersonal coordination can be traced back to the early 1960s when video recording began to be utilized in communication studies. Since then, technological advances have extended the range of techniques that can be used to accurately study interactional phenomena. Although such a diversity of methods contributes to the improvement of knowledge concerning interpersonal coordination, it has become increasingly difficult to maintain a comprehensive view of the field. In the present article, we review the main capture methods by describing their major findings, levels of description and limitations. We group them into three categories: video analysis, motion tracking, and psychophysiological and neurophysiological techniques. Revised evidence suggests that interpersonal coordination encompasses a family of morphological and temporal synchronies at different levels and that it is closely related to the construction and maintenance of a common social and affective space. We conclude by arguing that future research should address methodological challenges to advance the understanding of coordination phenomena.

Gender differences in synchrony: Females in sync during unstructured dyadic conversation

“…In general, synchrony research uses continuous or discrete time-series data with constant sampling rates, which are usually obtained through video analysis, motion tracking, or psychophysiological and neurophysiological techniques (Cornejo et al, 2017). In general, synchrony research uses continuous or discrete time-series data with constant sampling rates, which are usually obtained through video analysis, motion tracking, or psychophysiological and neurophysiological techniques (Cornejo et al, 2017).…”

“…On the other hand, synchrony studies have utilized structured or repetitive rhythmic tasks such as arm curls (Miles, Lumsden, Richardson, & Macrae, 2011), stepping (Miles, Griffiths, Richardson, & Macrae, 2010), swinging pendulums (Schmidt & O'Brien, 1997), and rocking in rocking chairs (Richardson, Marsh, Isenhower, Goodman, & Schmidt, 2007). Although highly structured interactions including repetitive rhythmic tasks and structured conversations allow researchers to collect data in a reduced-noise environment and apply sophisticated methods to analyze such data, these studies dismissed the social meaning underlying real-life social interactions (Cornejo et al, 2017). Although highly structured interactions including repetitive rhythmic tasks and structured conversations allow researchers to collect data in a reduced-noise environment and apply sophisticated methods to analyze such data, these studies dismissed the social meaning underlying real-life social interactions (Cornejo et al, 2017).…”

“…In contrast, synchrony refers to the convergence of rhythm and timing. In general, synchrony research uses continuous or discrete time-series data with constant sampling rates, which are usually obtained through video analysis, motion tracking, or psychophysiological and neurophysiological techniques (Cornejo et al, 2017). In order to evaluate synchrony, cross-correlation analysis (Tschacher, Rees, & Ramseyer, 2014), cross-recurrence quantification analysis (CRQA; Coco & Dale, 2014), or spectrum analysis (Schmidt, Morr, Fitzpatrick, & Richardson, 2012;Schmidt & O'Brien, 1997) can be employed.…”

“…Even in dyadic conversation settings, the interaction process was highly structured; the turn-taking of the speakers and the conversational rhythm were usually restricted (Schmidt, Nie, Franco, & Richardson, 2014;Schmidt et al, 2012), with some exceptions (Fujiwara & Daibo, 2016;Tschacher et al, 2014). Although highly structured interactions including repetitive rhythmic tasks and structured conversations allow researchers to collect data in a reduced-noise environment and apply sophisticated methods to analyze such data, these studies dismissed the social meaning underlying real-life social interactions (Cornejo et al, 2017).…”

Dynamics of Simultaneous and Imitative Bodily Coordination in Trust and Distrust

“…In some cases, experimental designs involve interactional situations that are distant from real social life (Musa et al, 2015; Cornejo et al, 2017a,b). Recent naturalistic and semi-naturalistic research framing coordination in conversational contexts seems to face this challenge.…”