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Sequential Synchronization Analysis

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Group Processes

Part of the book series: Computational Social Sciences ((CSS))

Abstract

One of the oldest questions in group research is “What makes a group more than just a collection of individuals?” This chapter posits that as group members interact, their activities can become socially entrained, constituting the group as an entity beyond the individual members. Capturing social entrainment provides a unique marker on when and how unique properties emerge at the group level. Sequential synchronization analysis is a method for assessing the type and degree of entrainment in groups and teams based on member communication and behavior. It first defines meaningful sequences of actions for each team member and then analyzes how those sequences are synchronized over time. The chapter provides a step-by-step guide on the new approach and an example.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Preparation of this chapter was supported by National Science Foundation grant #BCS 0941268 and Army Research Institute grant W5J9CQ-12-C-0017. The contents of this chapter represent the opinions of the authors and not of these organizations.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Toshio Murase

  2. University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA

    Marshall Scott Poole

  3. Krannert School of Management, Purdue University, Lafayette, IN, USA

    Raquel Asencio

  4. Human Interfaces, Inc., Austin, TX, USA

    Joseph McDonald

Authors
  1. Toshio Murase
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  2. Marshall Scott Poole
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  3. Raquel Asencio
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  4. Joseph McDonald
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Toshio Murase .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA

    Andrew Pilny

  2. University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA

    Marshall Scott Poole

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Murase, T., Poole, M.S., Asencio, R., McDonald, J. (2017). Sequential Synchronization Analysis. In: Pilny, A., Poole, M. (eds) Group Processes. Computational Social Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48941-4_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48941-4_6

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