Further explanation of the reciprocity study

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The illustrations of interaction consistency (Fun Deck and
Sex Discussions) involve the following elements:

       1. Is the interaction “pattern” observed in one situation like
        that observed in a different situation? (Fun vs Sex problem discussions.)

        2.  How do we determine “similarity”? (Correlation coefficients.)

       3. What datum do we use to show similarity?

            a) total frequency of either positive or negative emitted behaviors
                 (as coded)
             b) the unit of patterning called conditional probability, to determine
                 whether a behavior sequence observed in one situation is
                 similar to the same sequence in a different situation.

        4.  For 3a we look at the total coded + or – and correlate each person’s
             output in each of the two situations. A high r means that high +
             people in situation 1 are also high in situation 2; low in 1 are low
             in 2. No correlation r means what one does in 1 is unrelated to what
             one does in 2.

        5. For 3b we look at the sequence or pattern defined by the conditional
            probability  (e.g., the link of H+ given that wife was +) in situation 1
            being related to the same pattern (e.g., H+ given W+) in situation 2.
            If  these unique patterns are related (i.e., high correlation) then what
           the spouse units do in each (content different situation) are similar.

       6. All of this defines reciprocity of exchanged behaviors.

       7. The results indicate a strong tendency for spouses’ negative behavior
           sequences to be carried over to different situations, indicating that
           these behaviors are “trait like” or characteristic (like  a
           signature  would be) for the couple.

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