Time-window Sequential Analysis Research Articles

Peer contagion dynamics in the friendships of children with ADHD.

Friendships in middle childhood carry high developmental significance. The majority of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have few friendships, unstable friendships, or poor relationship quality in any friendships they have. The current study used time-window sequential analysis to map the dynamics within the friendships of children with ADHD, specifically the peer contagion processes of dyadic mutuality and coercive joining. Participants were 164 dyads consisting of a target child with ADHD and peer problems (age 6-11years; 68% male; and 73% white) and a reciprocated friend. Dyads were observed in the lab during a cooperative task eliciting verbal negotiation processes to decide how to share a limited resource and during a fast-paced, engrossing, and competitive task. Both tasks were designed to mirror the real-world interactions of friends. Sequences of dyadic mutuality (i.e., reciprocity of positive affect and positive behaviors) and coercive joining (i.e., reciprocity of aggressive, controlling, and rule-breaking behaviors) between target children and friends were coded. Regarding dyadic mutuality, target children reciprocated their friends' positive affect in both tasks. They also reciprocated their friends' positive behaviors but only in the cooperative task. In contrast, they only reciprocated their friends' coercive joining behaviors in the competitive task. Medium to large reciprocity effects was found for 36%-53% (dyadic mutuality) and 38%-55% (coercive joining) of target children. These results extend findings of peer contagion processes to the friendships of children with ADHD and suggest that contagion may vary according to interaction context (i.e., competition vs. cooperation). Understanding the spread of peer contagion may illuminate how children with ADHD and their friends influence each other's adjustment over time and may guide friendship-focused psychosocial interventions for this population.

Eating in Synch: An investigation of parent-infant behaviour coordination during feeding interactions

During feeding, parents have been described to move their mouth as if they were eating themselves. Such matching of behaviours between parents and their infants during face-to-face interactions represents an example of behavioural synchrony. To date, however, the function of these synchronous eating-like mouth movements by the caregiver remains unexplored. To address this question, two competing hypotheses were tested: 1) the instructional hypothesis proposing that parents make eating-like mouth movements, such as opening and closing their mouth, to demonstrate to their infants what they need to do; 2) the mimicry hypothesis suggesting that parents imitate their infant’s mouth actions to enhance affiliation. To test these hypotheses, we examined the temporal dependencies between parents’ and infants’ mouth movements. We reasoned that parents’ mouth movements would occur before their infants’ if they serve an instructional purpose, but that they would happen after, if parents mimic their infants. Additionally, we expected that parents’ matching mouth movements would be more likely when their infants looked at them in both cases. To examine these hypotheses, fifteen caregivers were observed as they were feeding their six-month-old infants. Time-window sequential analysis was conducted to quantify how likely parents were to display mouth opening and closing before or after their infants did. The results revealed that parents’ mouth movements were more likely to follow infants' movements and are thus in line with the mimicry hypothesis. Interestingly, these mouth movements of parents were independent of infant’s gaze.

Sequential Associations Between Communication Acts of Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder and Maternal Verbal Responses.

In this study, the sequential associations between child communication acts, including spontaneous communication (SC) and elicited communication (EC), and the types of verbal responses of Iranian mothers (follow-in nondirective, follow-in directive, and redirective responses) were compared between children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and young typically developing (TD) children. Participants were 29 children with ASD aged 3-6 years and 40 TD children aged 13-18 months, matched on expressive vocabulary. Using time-window sequential analysis, maternal verbal responses within a time interval of 3 sec following child communication were examined during 15 min of video-recorded mother-child free play interaction. Mothers in the two groups had broadly similar patterns of response to child communication acts, but some differences in responding to child EC. Across both groups, sequential associations were stronger for maternal follow-in nondirective responses to child SC than for this type of response to child EC, and were stronger for follow-in directive responses to child EC than for follow-in directive responses to child SC. Child EC and SC acts were less likely to be followed by redirective responses than other maternal responses, again across both groups. Finally, mothers of children with ASD were more likely than mothers of TD children to follow-in to child EC with both nondirective and directive responses. Our findings suggest that mothers of children with ASD synchronize their responses with their child's SC acts to the same extent as mothers of TD children, and are more synchronous in responding to their child's EC acts. LAY SUMMARY: This observational study examined how Iranian mothers verbally responded to their children's communication acts, based on whether the children's communication was spontaneous (unprompted) or elicited (prompted by the mother). Mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder or typical development responded to their children's spontaneous communication acts in similar ways, but showed some differences in responding to children's elicited communication. By prompting their children to communicate, mothers create opportunities to give additional verbal responses to their children, which may help to support children's further language development.

Parents' Verbal and Nonverbal Caring Behaviors and Child Distress During Cancer-Related Port Access Procedures: A Time-Window Sequential Analysis.

To study the relationship between parental verbal and nonverbal caring behaviors and child distress during cancer-related port access placement using correlational and time-window sequential analyses. . Longitudinal, observational design. . Children's Hospital of Michigan and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. . 43 child-parent dyads, each with two or three video recordings of the child undergoing cancer-related port placement. . Two trained raters coded parent interaction behaviors and child distress using the Parent Caring Response Scoring System and Karmanos Child Coping and Distress Scale, respectively. Mixed modeling with generalized estimating equations examined the associations between parent interaction behaviors and parent distress, child distress, and child cooperation reported by multiple raters. Time-window sequential analyses were performed to investigate the temporal relationships in parent-child interactions within a five-second window. . Parent caring behaviors, child distress, and child cooperation. . Parent caring interaction behaviors were significantly correlated with parent distress, child distress, and child cooperation during repeated cancer port accessing. Sequential analyses showed that children were significantly less likely to display behavioral and verbal distress following parent caring behaviors than at any other time. If a child is already distressed, parent verbal and nonverbal caring behaviors can significantly reduce child behavioral and verbal distress. . Parent caring behaviors, particularly the rarely studied nonverbal behaviors (e.g., eye contact, distance close to touch, supporting/allowing), can reduce the child's distress during cancer port accessing procedures. . Studying parent-child interactions during painful cancer-related procedures can provide evidence to develop nursing interventions to support parents in caring for their child during painful procedures.

Mutual regulation between infant facial affect and maternal touch in depressed and nondepressed dyads

The ability to regulate affect is important for later adaptive child development. In the first months of life, infants have limited resources for regulating their own affects (e.g. by gaze aversion), and for this reason they are dependent on external affect regulation from their parents. Previous research suggests that touch is an important means through which parents regulate their infants’ affects. Also, previous research has shown that post-partum depressed (PPD) mothers and nonclinical mothers differ in their touching behaviors when interacting with their infants. We examined the affect-regulating function of affectionate, caregiving and playful maternal touch in 24 PPD and 47 nonclinical mother-infant dyads when infants were four months old. In order to investigate the direction of effects and to account for repeated observations, the data were analysed using time-window sequential analysis and Generalized Estimating Equations. The results showed that mothers adapt their touching behaviors according to negative infant facial affect; thus, when the infant displays negative facial affect, the mothers were less likely to initiate playful touch and more likely to initiate caregiving touch. Unexpectedly, only in the PPD dyads, were the mothers more likely to initiate affectionate touch when their infants were displaying negative facial affect. Our results also showed that mothers use specific touch types to regulate infants’ negative and positive affects; infants are more likely to initiate positive affect during periods with playful touch, and more likely to terminate negative affect during periods with caregiving touch.

(254) Parent verbal and nonverbal interaction behaviors and child distress during cancer treatment port starts: a time-window sequential analysis

(254) Parent verbal and nonverbal interaction behaviors and child distress during cancer treatment port starts: a time-window sequential analysis

Parent-Implemented Communication Intervention

Collaboration with parents and caregivers to support young children’s communication development is an important component to early intervention services. Coaching parents to implement communication support strategies is increasingly common in parent-implemented interventions, but few studies examine the process as well as the outcomes. We explored the triadic relationships between interventionist, parent, and child within a parent-implemented communication for toddlers with Down syndrome (DS), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or developmental delays (DD). Time-window sequential analyses revealed that parents were more likely to use communication strategies during or immediately following coaching strategies that encouraged the parents’ active role. Children were more likely to use targeted communication skills immediately following responsive parent interactions. Intervention occurred in similar frequencies across play and non-play routine contexts. This analysis provides preliminary information on understanding potential mediating variables in parent-implemented interventions. Implications for increasing parent capacity-building and child outcomes through coaching are discussed.

Look closer: the alertness of people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities during multi-sensory storytelling, a time sequential analysis

Introduction: Multi-sensory storytelling (MSST) is a storytelling method designed for individuals with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD). It is essential that listeners be alert during MSST, so that they become familiar with their personalised stories. Repetition and the presentation of stimuli are likely to affect the alertness of listeners during MSST. Previous studies have only examined the overall level of alertness during MSST. This study focuses on changes in alertness over time during storytelling. Method: In this study, 27 direct support people read an MSST book 20 times with a person with PIMD. The 1st, 5th, 10th and 20th storytelling sessions were recorded. The relation between alertness and the active presentation of stimuli is analyzed using a time-window sequential analysis. We examined changes in alertness levels by comparing the four different storytelling sessions. Results: Higher levels of active alertness were observed when stimuli were actively presented. Alertness was not constant within storytelling sessions, and was related to the presentation of stimuli. Actively presented stimuli were associated with larger fluctuations in alertness. Discussion: Storytellers should present stimuli actively and for longer periods, in order to increase the alertness of listeners during storytelling.

Fostering a social child with autism: a moment-by-moment sequential analysis of an early social engagement intervention.

Young children with autism often experience limited social motivation and responsiveness that restricts establishment of crucial social momentum. These characteristics can lead to decreased opportunities for parental engagement and the social learning associated with these moments. Early social interventions that capitalize on pre-existing interests may be able to re-establish this developmentally critical feedback loop, in which both child and parent social behaviors simultaneously increase and influence one another. This investigation examined the moment-by-moment, micro-transactional relationship between parent and child social behavior gains observed in an early intervention study. Time-window sequential analyses revealed the presence of clinically and statistically significant sequential associations between parent and child social behaviors during an embedded social interaction intervention, but not in a comparable motivational intervention that utilized highly preferred toys and objects. Specifically, the onset of parent eye contact, directed positive affect, or offer of a reinforcing incentive predicted the immediate occurrence of child eye contact and positive affect in the experimental social intervention condition. Additionally, child verbal initiations, positive affect, and eye contact immediately predicted the onset of parent positive affect during this social intervention paradigm. Theoretical implications for the social developmental trajectory of autism are discussed.

Adding Practical Tools to Our Toolbox: Introduction to the Special Issue on Quantitative Methodologies

The most recent special issue in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology devoted to methodologies was published more than a decade ago (Noll, 2002). Several articles in that issue focused explicitly on quantitative methodologies. These articles were well-received by and influential within the specific discipline of pediatric psychology and the broader academic community (Aylward, Roberts, Colombo, & Steele, 2008). Owing to, in no small part, the 2002 special issue (Noll, 2002), the field of Pediatric Psychology has continued to mature with regard to methodological and statistical sophistication. Since the 2002 special issue, several important articles on quantitative methodologies were published in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology. These articles include practical coverage of topics such as growth curve modeling (Delucia & Pitts, 2006), analysis of count data (Karazsia & van Dulmen, 2008), effect sizes (Durlak, 2009), structural equation modeling (Nelson, Aylward, & Steele, 2008), and time-window sequential analysis (MacLarenChorney, Garcia, Berlin, Bakeman, & Kain, 2010). This special issue can be viewed as a supplement to such works. Another sign of the field embracing quantitative methods is the recently formed PRISM Special Interest Group, whose members have interests in Pediatric Research and Innovative Statistical Methodologies (Karazsia & Berlin, 2013). As part of our roles as PRISM SIG Co-Chairs, we believed it was time for another issue focused on accessible introductions to quantitative methods that have relevance to pediatric psychologists. With this in mind, our charges to authors in this issue were as follows: (a) write articles as a practical resource or guide, using straightforward language that will promote adoption of techniques by applied researchers; (b) include practical illustrations of methods, preferably with realworld data; and (c) include annotated syntax where appropriate to supplement the illustration. Invited authors for this issue not only answered this call, but they went above and beyond to present complex topics in ways that will resonate with pediatric scholars. The enthusiasm that authors brought to their work is illustrated in the titles. Who, other than Todd Little, would title an article about missing data ‘‘On the Joys of Missing data . . . ’’ (emphasis added; Little, Jorgensen, Lang, & Moore, 2014). While many scholars may dread the issue of missing data, Little, Jorgensen, Lang, and Moore (2014) illustrate proactive methodological strategies that can minimize or prevent the problem when considered before data collection commences. Another example is Eric Youngstrom’s calling the field to ‘‘ROC’’ (Receiver Operator Characteristic) with him (Youngstrom, 2014, ‘‘We are Ready to ROC’’). In his coverage of ROC analyses, Youngstrom (2014) illustrates the intricate relations between real-world issues faced by practicing clinicians, the questions researchers ask, and the quantitative methods that can help answer those questions and yield clinically relevant results. Two articles in this issue serve as complements to recent calls within the field for more single-subject studies (e.g., Rapoff, 2010) by introducing quantitative approaches to analyzing data from such designs (Cohen, Feinstein, Masuda, & Vowles, 2014; Cushing, 2014). These articles also highlight the relevance of pediatric research within real-world clinical practice settings. Cohen, Feinstein, Masuda, and Vowles (2014) wrestle with the fact that

Sequential analysis of mothers' and fathers' reassurance and children's postoperative distress.

Children experience distress after surgery. Associations exist between parent reassurance (e.g., "It's OK") and child distress, but little is known about the causal direction of these interactions. This study examined sequential relations between mothers' and fathers' reassurance and children's distress. 146 families with 2- to 11-year-olds undergoing elective surgery participated. Time-event coding and time-window sequential analysis examined whether reassurance preceded or followed child distress. Secondary analyses examined the relation of child sex and parent anxiety with the reassurance/distress contingency. Reassurance was positively correlated with distress; however, nonverbal distress was less likely to start following reassurance and was also more likely to continue following reassurance. Mothers were more likely to reassure following boys' verbal distress, and mothers with higher anxiety were more likely to reassure following nonverbal distress. Whereas parental reassurance may prevent the start of child distress, it might maintain ongoing child distress.

Adult-Child Interactions in the Postanesthesia Care Unit

BACKGROUND Many children experience significant distress before and after surgery. Previous studies indicate that healthcare providers' and parents' behaviors may influence children's outcomes. This study examines the influence of adults' behaviors on children's distress and coping in the postanesthesia care unit. METHODS Children aged 2-10 yr were videotaped during their postanesthesia care unit stay (n = 146). Adult and child behaviors were coded from video, including the onset, duration, and order of behaviors. Correlations were used to examine relations between behaviors, and time-window sequential statistical analyses were used to examine whether adult behaviors cued or followed children's distress and coping. RESULTS Sequential analysis demonstrated that children were significantly less likely to become distressed after an adult used empathy, distraction, or coping/assurance talk than they were at any other time. Conversely, if a child was already distressed, children were significantly more likely to remain distressed if an adult used reassurance or empathy than they were at any other time. Children were more likely to display coping behavior (e.g., distraction, nonprocedural talk) after an adult used this behavior. CONCLUSIONS Adults can influence children's distress and coping in the postanesthesia care unit. Empathy, distraction, and assurance talk may be helpful in keeping a child from becoming distressed, and nonprocedural talk and distraction may cue children to cope. Reassurance should be avoided when a child is already distressed.

Adult–Child Interactions in the Postanesthesia Care Unit

Many children experience significant distress before and after surgery. Previous studies indicate that healthcare providers' and parents' behaviors may influence children's outcomes. This study examines the influence of adults' behaviors on children's distress and coping in the postanesthesia care unit. Children aged 2-10 yr were videotaped during their postanesthesia care unit stay (n = 146). Adult and child behaviors were coded from video, including the onset, duration, and order of behaviors. Correlations were used to examine relations between behaviors, and time-window sequential statistical analyses were used to examine whether adult behaviors cued or followed children's distress and coping. Sequential analysis demonstrated that children were significantly less likely to become distressed after an adult used empathy, distraction, or coping/assurance talk than they were at any other time. Conversely, if a child was already distressed, children were significantly more likely to remain distressed if an adult used reassurance or empathy than they were at any other time. Children were more likely to display coping behavior (e.g., distraction, nonprocedural talk) after an adult used this behavior. Adults can influence children's distress and coping in the postanesthesia care unit. Empathy, distraction, and assurance talk may be helpful in keeping a child from becoming distressed, and nonprocedural talk and distraction may cue children to cope. Reassurance should be avoided when a child is already distressed.

Catch the wave! Time-window sequential analysis of alertness stimulation in individuals with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities

While optimally activities are provided at those moments when the individual with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) is 'focused on the environment' or 'alert', detailed information about the impact that the design and timing of the activity has on alertness is lacking. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to shed light on the sequential relationship between different stimuli and alertness levels in individuals with PIMD. Video observations were conducted for 24 participants during one-on-one interactions with a direct support person in multisensory environments. Time-window sequential analyses were conducted for the 120 s following four different stimuli. For the different stimuli, different patterns in terms of alertness became apparent. Following visual stimuli, the alertness levels of the individuals with PIMD changed in waves of about 20 s from 'active alert' to 'passive alert'. While auditory and tactile stimuli led to 'alert' reactions shortly after the stimulation, alertness levels decreased between seconds 20 and 120. Reactions to vestibular stimuli were only visible after 60 s; these were 'active alert' or 'withdrawn'. The results of the present study show that individuals with PIMD show their reactions to stimuli only slightly, so that 'waves' might reflect the optimal alertness pattern for learning and development. Consequently, it is especially important that direct support persons follow and stimulate these individual 'waves' in the activities they provide to their clients.

Time-Window Sequential Analysis: An Introduction for Pediatric Psychologists

Pediatric psychologists are often interested in interactions among individuals (e.g., doctors and patients, parents and children). Most research examining the nature of these interactions has used correlational analyses. Sequential analysis provides greater detail on contingencies during interactions and the way that interactions play out over time. The purpose of this article is to offer a non-technical introduction to sequential analyses for pediatric psychologists. A more recent derivation of the basic method, called time-window sequential analysis, is introduced and distinguished from other forms of sequential analysis. A step-by-step pediatric psychology example of time-window sequential analysis is provided and the integration of sequential analysis with traditional statistical methods is discussed. An example of physician-child interaction during anesthesia induction is used to illustrate the technique. Sequential analysis is a technique that is useful to pediatric psychologists who are interested in contingencies among data collected over time.

Empirical Guidance for Time-Window Sequential Analysis of Single Cases

Time-window sequential analyses test whether a target behavior occurs within a temporal window (e.g., within 2 seconds) after an antecedent behavior more than is expected by chance. This type of question is common when we need to know how one person or event may immediately affect another event or person in the natural environment. Theoretically, the significance of sequential associations from time-window analysis can be tested on the single subject level (Bakeman & Quera, 1995). The present Monte Carlo study was conducted to test the Type I error rates and the difference in sequential associations derived from four methods of time-window sequential analysis. The four methods vary according to whether they analyze the duration of antecedent and target behaviors. The results indicate that time-window sequential analysis method is generally valid. The results were most accurate when antecedent duration and target onset was analyzed. Although analyzing duration of the antecedent did affect the results, the effect size for the difference in results due to presence or absence of measuring duration of the antecedent was extremely small. Time-window analysis results appear unaffected by the decision to analyze the duration of the target event.

Examination of the Relationship Between Teacher Praise and Opportunities for Students with EBD to Respond to Academic Requests

Providing students with opportunities to respond to academic requests (OTR) and praise have been identified as effective teaching practices. Because academic difficulty is a primary characteristic of students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD), receiving adequate OTR and praise are crucial for ameliorating their academic deficits. Although a relationship between rates of OTR and teacher praise has been suggested, the nature of this relationship is largely unknown.The purpose of this article was to investigate this relationship through an examination of the significance and magnitude of the relation between teacher praise and OTR in classrooms for students with EBD using time-window sequential analysis. Results suggested that (a) a summary-level relationship represented by a significant positive correlation and (b) a significant sequential association existed between teacher praise and OTR. Implications for future research and study limitations are discussed.