A computerized method of describing phase-related interactive events: infant feeding as an example

A generalizable, computerized method has been designed to describe in detail interactive events that occur within phases of a process involving two or more interactants. The objectives of the method are: (A) visual discernment of patterns of events within and across phases through graphically displayed data and (B) summarization of events within phases for comparison of events across phases. Stages of the implementation of these objectives are illustrated with data obtained from observations of mother-infant feeding interaction. The method provides a means for an investigator to structure the exploration of patterns of behaviors in the context of the social activity in which the behaviors occur and to develop hypotheses about the data.