Sequential Synchronization Analysis

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.