Network Analysis of Multimodal, Multiscale Coordination in Dyadic Problem Solving

A recent trend in dyadic interaction research utilizes multiple modalities to better understand phenomena encompassing behavior matching (e.g., synchrony, alignment). Concurrent research has focused on a complementary framework of interaction, assessing the matching of power law distributions of behavior across two people: complexity matching. While both frameworks provide useful insights into dyadic interaction, they have done so independent of one another. We visualize the multimodal, multiscale coordination of dyads engaged in a tower-building task as networks based on the analyses of behavioral and complexity matching in speech and movement. We find that network strength relates to task performance and that high-performing dyads have weaker network strength, which we argue opens up more degrees of freedom affording more flexibility in the dyadic system.