A METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH TO MEASURE AND ANALYZE MOVEMENT BEHAVIOR

To date, two different methodological approaches have been used in col lecting data on nonverbal behavior in conversation. On the one hand, i nterpretative methods involve raters having to identify a set of previ ously defined categories of behavior and to code the intensity of thes e behavioral manifestations using extensive coding manuals. On the oth er hand, transcriptions of behavior which contain detailed classificat ions of body movements use accurate procedures to deal with behavioral aspects (e.g. picture-by-picture evaluations of videotapes). In the p resent contribution, transcriptions of behavior are regarded as a prer equisite for investigating the function and meaning of nonverbal behav ior. In this respect a method is introduced which allows directly coll ecting data on nonverbal behavior by using small ultrasonic transducer s (buttons) which are attached on to various parts of an index person' s body (head, arms and shoulders). A microcomputer determines receiver -transducer distances and calculates three-dimensional positions by tr iangulation as a function of time, over a data-collection situation of variable length. Based on these data, further calculations are made w hich show angle-positions of the head (in rotational, lateral and sagi tal dimensions), movement changes of the head (direction and size in r otational, lateral and sagital dimensions), movements of the arms, and intensities of the movements of separate body parts. Further steps of the evaluation present procedures to determine relevant changes in mo vements, to identify segments of movements, and to classify the quanti fications of movement patterns. The measured patterns of nonverbal beh avior can be accurately related to different features of the situation al context. The automated transcription and classification of movement patterns even allows the exploration of nonverbal behavior which stil l lacks descriptive identification. To estimate possible meanings of b ehavioral patterns, a heuristic is proposed which includes the situati onal context as the primary source of basis of interpretation (i.e. si tuations surrouding nonverbal behavior, e.g. verbal behavior in conver sations). The contrasting analysis of discourse sequences makes it pos sible to discover interactive nonverbal behavior and to postulate its meaning in an empirical way.