Doing mutual understanding. Calibrating with micro-sequences in face-to-face dialogue

Abstract

“Mutual understanding” has both cognitive and social, interactive meanings. Interlocutors can have or share a (cognitive) mutual understanding. We propose they also do mutual understanding in an observable, reciprocal, three-step micro-process called calibrating. Following Mead (1934) and several subsequent authors, calibrating sequences require three steps: The speaker introduces new information, the addressee responds, and the speaker follows up with evidence that the addressee's response displayed sufficient understanding for current purposes. Without the third step, the addressee would not have evidence of mutual understanding. We developed a microanalysis for reliably identifying calibrating sequences, then applied it to a random sample of face-to-face getting-acquainted dialogues. The results confirmed our three hypotheses: (a) calibrating sequences were continuous throughout these dialogues; 97% of the 1232 utterances that introduced new information were followed by the second and third steps. (b) The micro-sequences were short, averaging 5s each. (c) They were also efficient, with almost two-thirds of the utterances playing a role in more than one sequence. Several factors enhanced generalizability, including the unstructured and diverse content of getting-acquainted dialogues, random sampling, high inter-analyst agreement, and replication of an earlier study. Calibration can link cognitive theories of mutual understanding with observable social interaction. We also describe applications in practical settings.