Secondary and within-session analyses to improve the feasibility and precision of assessments of sociability

Abstract

Previous research has improved the feasibility and precision of assessments of sociability, but further progress is warranted. The purpose of this study was to evaluate secondary measures and within-session analyses to further improve the feasibility and precision of assessments of sociability. We reanalyzed previously published assessment results to evaluate whether initial and conditional (i.e., on therapist movement) approach and avoidance may approximate established continuous measures. Results indicated that both measures were strongly correlated with the percentage of session on the social side and may provide a more feasible approximation for use in clinical practice. We also conducted within-session analyses of these assessment results to evaluate whether they may improve precision or clarity. Correlational and matching-based analyses of the within-session data suggest that clear conclusions may be drawn from the results of a single session and facilitate a richer understanding of sociability. Implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed.