Motion analysis of dyadic talk during joint search and decision-making - A replication study

Area of Science:

• Human movement science
• Social interaction dynamics
• Non-verbal communication

Background:

• Human interaction relies on verbal and non-verbal cues for managing conversational flow.
• Previous research (Stevanovic et al., 2017) indicated higher behavioral matching during decision-making compared to search phases in Finnish participants.
• Behavioral matching, specifically body sway, was explored in relation to interactional phases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To replicate and extend previous findings on behavioral matching during joint search and decision-making.
• To investigate whole-body sway and its coordination in a German population during a collaborative decision task.
• To analyze the role of body sway as a non-verbal resource in signaling joint decisions.

Main Methods:

• A replication study involving 12 German dyads performing a joint decision-making task.
• Measurement of participants' whole-body sway using a 3D motion capture system.
• Calculation of center of mass (COM) accelerations and windowed cross-correlation (WCC) to quantify body sway matching.

Main Results:

• Significantly higher COM accelerations were observed during decision phases (5.4*10^-3 mm/s^2) compared to search phases (3.7*10^-3 mm/s^2).
• Windowed cross-correlation (WCC) coefficients, indicating body sway matching, were significantly higher during decision phases (0.47) than search phases (0.45).
• These findings confirm increased interpersonal coordination during the decision-making process.

Conclusions:

• Body sway serves as a non-verbal resource for communicating the attainment of a joint decision among interactants.
• The study supports the role of subconscious interpersonal coordination in human communication.
• Findings enhance the understanding of interaction dynamics from a human movement science perspective.