SEQUENTIAL ANALYSIS IN THE STUDY OF AFFECT REGULATION: METHODOLOGICAL
COMPARISONS
Laudan B. Jahromi, Michael J. Rovine, and Cynthia A. Stifter
Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University,
S-113 Henderson Building, University Park, PA 16802
In the study of affect regulation, many researchers have moved beyond correlational approaches to the use
of sequential methods to explore the efficacy of a variety of infant or maternal regulatory behaviors at reducing
infant reactivity. By unraveling behavioral sequences during infants’ distressed states, this body of research aims to
identify maternal or infant self-regulatory behaviors that reliably predict reductions in distress. From a
methodological standpoint, there exist a number of approaches to addressing these conceptual goals (Bakeman,
McAruthur, and Quera, 1996; Bakeman, 2000), yet there is little consensus as to the appropriateness of each method
for answering the empirical question at hand. Consistent with the work of Martin, Maccoby, Baran, and Jacklin
(1981) which compares microanalytic methods using dyadic mother-child data, the present study applies three
methods of measuring sequential contingencies to data sets of infant self-regulation and maternal regulation of
negative affect. Specifically, we utilize Sign Tests of transitional probabilities, Yule’s Q, and a Lag-1 Regression
approach in an effort to identify the degree to which these methods yield comparable results.
Three methods of analyzing sequential dependencies are applied to two sets of sequential data. The first set
of data consists of 150 mother-infant pairs videotaped following an inoculation at 2 and 6 months of age. For a
period of 4 minutes, behaviors were coded off-line during each 5-second interval, for a total of 48 intervals. Infant
negative reactivity was coded according to a 4-point scale, representing an increasing intensity of crying, while the
presence/absence of any of the following maternal regulatory behaviors was also coded: affection, touching, holding
or rocking, vocalization, caretaking, distraction, face to face interaction, and feeding or use of a pacifier. These data
enable us to examine the sequential dependencies between maternal regulatory behaviors and decreases in the level
of infant distress.
The second set of data consists of 150 infants videotaped during an arm restraint procedure at 6 and 12
months of age. For a period of 1 minute after the start of the arm restraint procedure, infants’ reactivity and
regulatory behaviors were coded off-line in 1-second intervals, for a total of 60 intervals. Infant negative reactivity
was coded according to a 4-point scale, representing an increasing intensity of crying, while the presence or absence
of the following self-regulatory infant behaviors was also coded: tension release/self comfort, avoidance, and nonnegative communication. These data enable us to examine the sequential dependencies between infants’ selfregulatory behavior and decreases in their level of distress.
While we are presently conducting analyses on these data, preliminary results from the inoculation data set
reveal differences among the results obtained from these three methods. The results of the sign test of transitional
probabilities indicate that the number of dyads for which holding/rocking, vocalization, and feeding/pacifying
occurred contingently with a decrease in crying was significantly greater than that which would be expected by
chance. While the results of the Yule’s Q analyses offer relatively consistent information concerning those
behaviors that are positively or negatively associated with decreases, the magnitude of these associations (indicating
the strength of the effect) are rather small, ranging from -.15 to .22 at 2 months, and -.12 to .19 at 6 months. While
the sign test results count dyads to offer information regarding the pattern of contingencies at the group level, Yule’s
Q analyses look within each dyad to consider the odds of each type of behavioral contingency. Finally, a Lag-1
Regression approach also offers similar results. Specifically, these analyses reveal that holding/rocking and
feeding/pacifying are significant positive predictors of decreases in infants’ reactivity levels at both 2 and 6 months
(p<.05) Additionally, caretaking behaviors are shown to be significant negative predictors of decreases in infant
reactivity at 6 months (p<.05). The implications of these differential findings are discussed with an emphasis on
identifying the best method for making interpretations regarding the regulatory effect of behaviors. Further analyses
are also in progress. Specifically, we will apply these analytic methods to infant self-regulatory data in order to
determine whether a similar pattern of results is obtained from the three sequential methods.