Interpersonal Synchrony:

Introduction to Methods and Analysis

This workshop offers a practical introduction to the study of interpersonal synchrony—
also referred to by names such as covariation, attunement, or linkage. It covers essential methodological and analytical decisions, introducing researchers to the considerations necessary for conducting studies and performing analyses on how and when people synchronize with one another.

Instructors:
Amie M. Gordon, PhD (University of Michigan)
Kate Thorson, PhD (Barnard College)

Workshop Dates:
Monday, July 28, 2025 at 10:30am-3:30pm EDT
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at 10:30am-3:30pm EDT
(New Workshop in 2025!)

Workshop Format:
Two-Day Online Workshop and Recording

This two-day workshop focuses on the study of interpersonal synchrony, introducing participants to essential methods and analytic considerations for its measurement and analysis. We will start by discussing why researchers are increasingly examining interpersonal synchrony and discussing what is known and unknown in terms of research questions, methods, and analytic approaches.

The first day will introduce the concept of interpersonal synchrony and then focus on key considerations for designing studies to assess synchrony. The second day will focus on data structure and key considerations for conducting analyses to test synchrony-related questions. Methodological considerations will include topics such as the frequency of measurement, distinguishability of dyads, sources of synchrony, group dynamics extensions, and approaches to the manipulation and/or measurement of variables for understanding synchrony processes. Analytic considerations will include topics such as data processing and structuring and an introduction to different approaches to analyzing synchrony. We will also discuss aligning one’s conceptual research question to one’s analytic approach.

The workshop focuses primarily on lectures but includes some opportunities for hands-on exercises, with example data sets provided for practice.

This workshop is designed for graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, faculty, and research scientists interested in advancing understanding and application of interpersonal synchrony in their research.

What you’ll learn

  • The benefits of studying interpersonal synchrony

  • What is known and unknown in the design, measurement, and analysis of interpersonal synchrony

  • Fundamentals of designing studies to examine interpersonal synchrony

  • Fundamentals of analytic approaches for the analysis of interpersonal synchrony

Syllabus

Day 1:

  • Why would you want to measure synchrony?

  • What we do and do not know about the measurement and analysis of synchrony

  • Methodological Considerations, including:

    • Frequency of measurement

    • Distinguishability of dyads

    • Source of synchrony

    • Extensions to groups

    • Manipulation or measurement of variables to understand process

Day 2:

  • Key Analytic Considerations, including:

    • Processing and structuring data for analysis

    • Introduction to different analytic approaches

    • Matching your analytic approach to your conceptual question (e.g., covariation versus linkage)

Registration Options

Interpersonal Synchrony

  • Professional
  • $599
  • Baseline Price for Faculty,
    Staff, and Other Professionals
  • Click Register Below
  • Trainee
  • $599 $401
  • 33% Discount for
    Students and Postdocs
  • Use code "TRAINEE" at Checkout

Combo 1: Interpersonal Synchrony + Dyadic Longitudinal Data Analysis

  • Professional
  • $1598 $1278
  • Baseline Price for Faculty,
    Staff, and Other Professionals
  • 20% Combination Discount
  • Click Register Below
  • Trainee
  • $1278 $857
  • 33% Discount for
    Students and Postdocs
  • 20% Combination Discount
  • Use code "TRAINEE" at Checkout

Combo 2: Interpersonal Synchrony + Advanced Topics in Dyadic Longitudinal Data Analysis

  • Professional
  • $1198 $958
  • Baseline Price for Faculty,
    Staff, and Other Professionals
  • 20% Combination Discount
  • Click Register Below
  • Trainee
  • $958 $642
  • 33% Discount for
    Students and Postdocs
  • 20% Combination Discount
  • Use code "TRAINEE" at Checkout

Note: All registration options for this workshop come with two things:
(1) The ability to attend the live recording of the 2025 version of the workshop on June 2-5, 2025
(2) Access to the video recording and materials of the 2025 version of the workshop after June 5, 2025

If this workshop is offered again in future years (e.g., 2026+), then you will have continued “evergreen” access to the new recordings and materials.

 FAQs

  • This workshop is appropriate for graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, faculty, and other research scientists who are interested in the study of interpersonal processes.

  • Beginner/Intermediate

  • Participants will be expected to have a basic grasp of research methods and statistics such as would be expected of a first year PhD student.

  • Analytic approaches will focus on modeling choices and not be specific to a particular software program. Some examples will be provided for popular software programs (R, SPSS) and we will discuss which analytic approaches require specific software programs (e.g., Mplus, SAS).

  • Lecture slides, sample datasets and code