Intra-pair Communication Research Articles

“Better Communication Leads to a Higher Output?” An Analysis of Pair Communication on Pair Programming Productivity

<bold xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Background:</b> This study focuses on how group communication affects group productivity. The specific scope of the study is pair programming. The study aims to discover whether intra-pair communication in pair programming has a significant impact on the pair programming process and output. <bold xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Literature review:</b> Many of the pair programming communication studies are descriptive and qualitative studies whose foci lay more on communication contents and alternative message deliveries. As a result, more research that focuses on analyzing the effectiveness of a person's communication skill level while performing a demanding task is needed. <bold xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Research question:</b> Does the communication competency level significantly impact pair programming output? <bold xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Methodology:</b> A pool of novice university programming students was deployed for the experiment. The Conversational Skills Rating Scale (CSRS) was used to categorize them into three cohorts—"high-high,” “high-low,” and “low-low.” The confounding variables were controlled. <bold xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Results:</b> No significant difference was found among the three cohorts in terms of their pair programming code output. Additionally, the post-experiment questionnaire responses revealed no significant difference in compatibility and confidence levels, but did show a significant difference in communication level. <bold xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Conclusion:</b> With all things being equal, a programmer's high communication skill level doesn't play a significant role in the programming output in a pair programming setting.

The conspecific avoidance strategies of adult female-calf humpback whales

Abstract During migration, humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) adult females and their calves use acoustic calling to help maintain contact. The signals produced by these pairs, however, may unintentionally attract nearby breeding males, which can result in interactions that have negative physical and physiological effects on the calf. Therefore, maternal females must choose the vocal and/or behavioral strategy that most effectively balances intra-pair communication with male avoidance. Here, we analyzed differences in adult female-calf vocal activity and movement behavior according to the presence of, and distance to, singing whales and other groups likely to contain males. The results of this study found that these pairs make only minimal changes to their vocal behavior in response to nearby males, suggesting that they have instead evolved calls that are naturally difficult to detect (i.e., produced at significantly lower rates and acoustic levels than other whale groups, resulting in a restricted active space). In addition, they maintain spatial separation from nearby groups by moving to shallower, inshore waters, increasing their proportion of time spent near the surface, and favoring a direct migratory course. This combination of cryptic strategies balances avoidance of unwanted conspecific interaction with the necessity of continued contact between maternal female humpback whales and their calves.

Analysis of Production Data from Communicating Multifractured Horizontal Wells Using the Dynamic Drainage Area Concept

Summary Reduction of fracture/well spacing and increases in hydraulic fracture stimulation treatment size are popular strategies for improving hydrocarbon recovery from multifractured horizontal wells (MFHWs). However, these strategies can also increase the chance of fracture interference, which can not only negatively impact the overall production but also introduce complexities for production data analysis. A semianalytical model is therefore developed to analyze production data from two communicating MFHWs and applied to a field case. The new semianalytical model uses the dynamic drainage area (DDA) concept and assumes three porosity regions. The three-region model is comprised of a primary hydraulic fracture (PHF), an enhanced fractured region (EFR) adjacent to the PHF, and a nonstimulated region (NSR). Assuming a well pair primarily communicates through PHFs, the equations for two communicating wells are coupled and solved simultaneously to model the fluid transfer between the wells. This method is used within a history-matching framework to estimate the communication between the wells by matching the production data. The semianalytical model is first verified against a more rigorous, fully numerical simulation model for a range of fracture/reservoir properties. These comparisons demonstrate that there is excellent agreement between the fully numerical simulation model results and the new semianalytical model. The semianalytical model is then employed to history-match production data from six MFHWs (drilled from two adjacent well pads) exhibiting different degrees of communication. For the purpose of history matching the data, only strong communication between pairs of wells (intrapair communication) is considered in the three-region model, and the results show good agreement with the field data. A flexible, yet simple, semianalytical model is developed for the first time that can accurately model the communication between multiple well pairs. This approach can be used by reservoir engineers to analyze the production data from communicating MFHWs.

Songbird mates change their call structure and intrapair communication at the nest in response to environmental noise

The coordination of behaviours between mates is a central aspect of the biology of the monogamous pair bonding in birds. This coordination may rely on intrapair acoustic communication, which is surprisingly poorly understood. Here we examined the impact of an increased level of background noise on intrapair acoustic communication at the nest in the zebra finch, Taeniopygia guttata. We monitored how partners adapted their acoustic interactions in response to a playback of wind noise inside the nestbox during incubation. Both zebra finch parents incubate and use coordinated call duets when they meet at the nest. The incubating parent can vocalize to its partner either outside the nestbox (sentinel duets) or inside the nestbox (relief and visit duets), depending on the context of the meeting. Pairs use these duets to communicate on predation threats (sentinel duets), incubation duties (relief) and other nesting activities (visit duets). Each of these duets probably represents a critical component of pair coordination. In response to the noise playback, partners called less and more rapidly during visit and relief duets. Female and male calls were more regularly and precisely alternated during relief duets. Mates increased the number of visit duets and their spatial proximity during sentinel duets. Furthermore, both females and males produced louder, higher-frequency and less broadband calls. Taken together our results show that birds use several strategies to adjust to noise during incubation, underlining the importance of effective intrapair communication for breeding pairs.

California towhee vocal duets are multi-functional signals for multiple receivers

AbstractAvian vocal duets provide a model system for studying the evolution and production of complex signals which require input from multiple individuals. Duets serve a variety of communication functions in diverse species. To explore the function of duetting in California towhees (Pipilo crissalis) I collected behavioural data from a marked population, conducted sound playback experiments, and removed males from established pairs to observe the behaviour of new partners. Results indicate that California towhees use duets during extra-pair communication with conspecifics and during intra-pair communication between duetting partners. During the breeding season duetting frequency peaked during the chick-rearing period and was low during periods of high female fertility. Playbacks provoked similar levels of aggressive response from male and female territory holders. Mated pairs duetted in response to simulated intrusion by conspecific males, females and pairs. California towhee duets briefly increased in frequency after pairing, and showed no evidence of change due to learning. Duets facilitate spatial and behavioural coordination by mates, which should allow them to more effectively perform behaviours related to mutual reproductive success. No single existing hypothesis adequately explains vocal duetting among California towhees. Instead, duets function in multiple contexts and provide multiple potential benefits.

Variation in the function of Eagle Owl vocal behaviour: territorial defence and intra-pair communication?

The main aim of this work was to investigate the possibility that in territorial males of a species present throughout the year on their territory with their mate, there are manifest differences in the call functions within the call period. I listened monthly to dusk call displays of 17 Eagle Owl Bubo bubo males from early October to mid-February. Two different call periods exist in this species: in the first (October–December), the territorial function seems to be predominant, whereas in the second (January–February), calling related to mating prevails. Actually, in this latter period the behaviour of both male and female changes: both mate duets and number of copulations after them increase, and the choice of song posts and male vocal behaviour are different. The call functions are discussed in terms of the male-announcement, female-reproduction and territoryestablishment hypotheses.

WHERE TO SING AND WHERE TO CALL. VOCALIZATIONS OF CHAFFINCHESFRINGILLA COELEBSINSIDE AND OUTSIDE THEIR TERRITORIES

ABSTRACT The spatial distributions of chaffinch full song and some of the calls are described with regard to the territories. Full songs of five colour ringed and transmitter marked males occurred mainly inside and in a few cases outside the territories. These events are interpreted as attempts by the birds to enlarge their territories. Rain calls and courtship tchirp calls were restricted to the singing territories. The social chink call was frequently uttered outside the territories as a means of intra-pair communication.

Calling Behavior of Spotted Owls in Northern Arizona

I studied the calling behavior of radio-tagged Mexican Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis lucida) in northern Arizona. Owls used a variety of calls, with three call types (Four-note Location Call, Contact Call, and Bark Series) accounting for 86% of calling bouts heard. These calls were used by both sexes, but in significantly different proportions. Males (n = 4) called twice as frequently as females (n = 3), and there also appeared to be intrasexual differences in calling rates. Calling activity increased from March through May, then declined from June through November. Calling activity was highest during the 2-hr period following sunset, with smaller peaks 4-8 hr after sunset and just before sunrise. Calling bouts averaged 9.9 min in duration, and were significantly longer when other owls were calling. Owls called more than expected during the last quarter and new moon phases of the lunar cycle, and called most frequently on calm, clear nights when no precipitation was falling. The timing and nature of Spotted Owl calls suggests that calling behavior may be as important in intrapair communication as in territory advertisement. Differences in calling rates among owls suggest that not all owls will be equally detectable using calling surveys.

Intersexual song answering in Red-winged Blackbirds

Female Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) answer their mates' songs with their own songs. Field observations were conducted to determine the extent of song-answering behavior during the Red-winged Blackbird breeding season and to test the hypothesis that song answering in this species is primarily a sexual communication. Females answered significant percentages of their mates' songs during the prenesting and incubation phases of the breeding season, but answering rates declined during the latter phases. Females tended to answer mates when the males were engaged in sexual activities, providing support for the idea that song answering in this species functions in intrapair communication.