Using Technology to Study Human Interaction: Practice and Implications of a Sequential Behavior Approach

Abstract

This paper provides a conceptual summary of sequential behavior analysis (SBA) in two contexts: research traditions of studying human interaction and increasingly capable computer technologies. Directly observing interactive behavior is posed as an important means of discovering the salient characteristics of effective interactions across several professional settings, including teaching and coaching as two of the many possibilities. An argument is made for the cautious development and validation of computer applications that provide a new way of looking at experimental phenomena and enable users to uncover useful information previously unavailable through other means. Data from a physical education teacher training setting are presented to illustrate the importance of viewing instructional and clinical settings through an SBA lens and the potential benefits of sequential data in increasing the effectiveness of those settings. The implications of computer technology and its relationship to research, development, and professional education are discussed in changing interdisciplinary contexts.