US2609618A

US2609618A - Interaction recorder

Info

Publication number: US2609618A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1952-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 1969-09-09

Description

Sept. 9, 1952 CHAPPLE 2,609,618

INTERACTION RECORDER Filed NOV. 27, 1948 16Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 9, 1952 E. D. CHAPPLE 2,609,613

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Patented Sept. 9, 1952 U N ITED S TATES PATEN T F F 1 CE INTERACTION RECORDER Eliot D. Chapple, Milton, Mass., assignor to The E. D. Chapple C0,,Inc., New York, Y., a :corporation 'of Massachusetts Application November 27, 1948, Serial No.v 62,384

' (ores-2.2.)

'18 Claims. .1

This invention relates to recording apparatus and, more particularly, to apparatus for recording the behavior of individuals in interaction. It is an improvement of the Interaction Recorder described in my U. S. Patent No. 2,387,563, issued October 23, 1945.

It is a matter of observation and induction from experience that, when two individuals come together, the actions of oneindividual are followed in some fashion by actions of the other. Interaction-may be defined as sequences of such stimulus .and response, in which the: initial stimulus or action is manifested by one individual, and in which the response or actionof the second individual may, and very frequently does, become a stimulus. for the first. We can describe such interaction objectively by the duration of the successive actions and inactions of each individual and by the order in which they act; and it isevident that a description limited to those observable phenomena .is susceptible of precise measurement and analysis. Data of this kind obtained from numerous observations of interaction has :made it possible to develop reliable methods of measuring human behavior in interaction that are being successfully applied,

for example, to certain aspects of personnel work and to the diagnosis of various mentaldisorders.

When we observe two individuals in interaction, the actions or inactions of one may ormay not overlap those of the other at anygiven time; but therezare only ,four possible static conditions (those having a measurable duration in time) (a) jIndivid-ual A talks or acts while individual :13 is silent. it) Both talk or act at the same time (double action). (0;) Individual l3 talks or acts while individual ,A is

silent. (d) Both are silent or inactive (double silence) All interaction necessarily involves a dynamic transition from one static condition to another, and eachof the four static conditions above can be reached by a transition from anyone of the three other static conditions. Each of those transitions is different, involving a different sequence or order of action between the two individuals. For example, the static condition of double action defined in (b) above, in which both Aand B are talking at the same time, can result from any one of the following different transitional sequences: A interrupts B, a transition from static condition (0) above; B interrupts .A, a transition from static condition (a) above; or AandB commence talking at the same time, a .transition from static condition (01) Likewise, each of the other static conditions can result from any one of three other and different transitional sequences, sothat it is possible to have a total of twelvedifferenttransitional sequences, or permutations of the order of action between -A-and B. Two of those permutations (where- A and B start talking at exactly thesame-time, and where A and B become silent at exactly the same timelare so seldom encountered in interaction situations limited to two persons that they can be ignored. The remaining ten permutations or transitional sequences should, however, be differentiated and recorded in order to -obtain reliable-data on the behavior of two persons in interaction.

It is apparent from the foregoing analysis that apparatus for recording 1 interaction between two persons should'beable not only to differentiate between the ten transitional sequences that. are normally: encounteredand to record the occurrence of each of those sequences, but :also to record :the vdurationofxthe interval betweensuccessive transitions 1. e. the duration of each static condition). To be of greatest use, the apparatus should record the foregoing :data in a form that will make it possible to differentiate between occurrences of the same static condition resulting from .two orniore different transitional sequences. It should also combine the data in a'form that will give a convenient summary of the more important sequences and durations :for the entire period of interaction.

The Interaction Becor-der described in my patent-above referred to is capable of recording only six different combinations for all of the ten transitional sequences normally encountered in the interaction of ,A and B; and only .four of those combinations precisely differentiate sep- .arate transitional sequences. Each of the other two combinations is responsive to anyone of three different sequences, but can not differentiate between them. Those undifferentiated transitions include the ones that are particularly important in determining the relative qualities of initiative and dominance on the part of the two persons in interaction. For-example, if A and B are both talking at the same time and B becomes silent while A continues to talk .(i. e., A outtalks B), there hasoccurred-a transition from static condition (b to static condition (a). It has been found that frequent occurrences of this particular transition during a period of in ,teraction between A and B may properly be interpreted as indicating that A has a more dominating personality than B. An accurate measurement of the relative dominance of the two persons is quite important in personnel placement work, as for example, in the selection of foremen or of others who are to act in a supervisory capacity. However, in the apparatus described in the above patent, this particular transition is recorded in exactly the same way as (1) the transition from static condition (0) to static condition (a), in which A begins to talk as B becomes silent, indicating synchronization between the two persons; and (2) the transition from static condition (it) to static condition (a), in which A begins to talk after both have been silent, indicating initiative on the part of A.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide recording apparatus that will record in convenient and usable form each occurrence of the ten difierent transitional sequences from one static condition to another that normally occur in interaction situations limited to two individuals, and that will at th same time record in convenient and usable form the duration of the interval between each successive transition from one static condition to another.

Another object is to provide apparatus, for use in measuring the behavior of two individuals A and B in interaction, that will record in convenient and usable form upon each change from activity to inactivity, or vice versa, on the part of either A or B during the entire period of interaction between them (I) the duration of each of the following:

(a) The actions of each individual;

(1)) The inactions of each individual;

(0) Their concurrent actions (double actions), where A has interrupted B;

(id) Their concurrent actions (double actions), where B has interrupted A;

(e) Their concurrent inactions .(double silences), where A has failed to respond promptly to B; and

(1) Their concurrent inactions (double silences), where B has failed to respond promptly to A; and (2) the number of the occurrences of each of the following sequences of action and inaction between the individuals A and B:

(a) As interruptions of B;

(b) Bs interruptions of A;

(c) As failures to respond promptly to B;

(d) Bs failures to respond promptly to A;

(e) As initiations of action after both have been inactive (i. e., when A break a silence);

(1) BS initiations of action after both have been inactive (i e., when B breaks a silence) (g) As continuation of action alone after both have been active (i. e., when A outtalks B); and

(h) Bs continuations of action alone after both have been active (i. e., when B outtalks A).

A further object is to provide apparatus satisfying the foregoing objects that will record the desired data solely in response to the movement of two control switches, one for each of the individuals under observation, each switch having two operative positions and being adapted to assume one of those positions during a period of activity on the part of one individual and to assume the other position during a period of inactivity on the part of the same individual.

A still further object is to provide apparatus that, in addition to fulfilling the foregoing conditions, will record the number and duration of the units of interaction for each of the individuals under observation, i. e., the number of times he ends (or starts) a discriminable period of activity.

Other objects will appear from the following specification.

The preferred embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an exterior perspective view of the assembled apparatus; Fig. 2, a vertical section along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 4, additional sectional views along the lines 3-3 and respectively, in Fig. 2; Fig. 5, an enlarged view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a sectional view along the line 6-4; in Fig. 5; Fig. 7, a wiring diagram of the control mechanism of the machine; and Figs. 8 to 17 inclusive, the same wiring diagram, showing the different operative positions assumed by the various relay mechanisms following each of the ten diiferent transitional sequences normally encountered in interaction situations limited to two persons.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to i, which are limited to illustrating the physical structure of the preferred embodiment of the invention, the operativemeohanisms are enclosed within a casing l5 formed of sheet metal attached to a frame, which is made of a plurality of interconnected angle members 16 to form a rigid structure. The casing and its supporting frame are mounted on casters ii. To make the enclosed apparatus readily accessible, the upper halves of the front and'back of the casing are hinged to the lower halves and are normally secured to the top l3 of the casing by clasps it. This top is provided with a window 29, through which may be observed a portion or" the data printed by the recording mechanism on a strip or paper 2! Electrical conductors 22 lead from the apparatus within the casing to a control box 23, which has a plurality of switches or keys, including two control switches A and B, for making and breaking electrical circuits as hereinafter described. Electrical conductors 24 lead from the control box to a'source of alternating current not shown in the drawings. The number of the electrical conductors 24, their connections to various electrical devices within the casing, and their connections to the switches in controlbox 23 can not be properly shown in the structural drawings; but they are shown in the wiring diagram of Fig. 7 and will be fully described in connection with that diagram.

Within the casing and extending lengthwise of it is a'supporting angle member 25, attached at either end to one of the side frames. Mounted on the upper surface of this member at spaced intervals are eleven counters, numbered l to H. These counters are provided with type faces for printing and are adapted toindicate numerical values in unit increments, preferably from zero to 9,999. Counters I, 2, ii, iii, and II are of conventional ratchet type that register unit increments in only one direction upon the downward movement of their respective lever arms 1a, 2a, etc., attached to their shafts. The remaining counters are also of conventional type butregister unit increments in either (positive or negative) direction, depending upon the direction of rotation of their shafts.

The power mechanisms for operating the counters are mounted on two

panels

26 and 2? supported by-the member 25. Those mechanisms include solenoids SI, S2, S5, SH), and SIL'the armatures of which are attached by appropriate linkages to the lever arms of the correspondingly numbered counters. These lever arms and the armatures connected thereto are normally held in an elevated position by springs 28 fastened between the armatures and the panel on which the solenoids are mounted. Each time that one of the solenoids is energized its armature is pulled downward, causing its associated counter to reg ster a unit increment. The pairs of solenoids, Sla and S11), and SM and S81), operate the counters I and 8, respectively, in either direction as described in detail below.

Counters

4, 5 and 6 are adapted to be driven in either direction by reversible synchronous motors M4, M5, and M6, respectively; each motor being appropriately connected, as by a chain and sprocket drive, with the correspondingly numbered counter. The remaining counter 3 is likewise driven by a synchronous motor M3, but only in one direction. Each synchronous motor rotates continuously when started, until stopped or reversed by the control mechanisms hereinafter described. Its speed is preferably such that it will cause its as sociated counter to register one unit for each second of time that the motor is operating, those units being positive when the motor and counter rotate in one direction and negative when the direction of their rotation is reversed.

The mechanisms for operating counters l and 8 are best illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. Since each of those counters is operated by similar means, the operation of counter 8 alone will be described. The power mechanisms for counter 8, the solenoids S800 and S81), are fastened in staggered relation on opposite sides of a plate 30. This plate is attached to a bracket 31, which is secured to

panels

28 and 21. The top of plate 38 has a deep recess, so that the upper part of the plate (from the view in Fig. 5) is U-shaped, with upwardly extending leg portions 33 and 34. Within that recess, a sprocket wheel 35 is rigidly mounted on a rotatable shaft 36 that is supported by both leg portions. Rigidly mounted on the same shaft adjacent to leg portion 34 is a ratchet wheel 37 adapted to be driven in a clockwise direction (looking at Fig. 6). A second ratchet wheel 38 adapted to be driven in the opposite direction is rigidly mounted on the same shaft on the other side of the sprocket wheel adjacent to leg portion 33 (a portion of this ratchet wheel is shown in the cut-away of Fig. 6). The leg portion 34 supports a slide housing 39 adjacent to ratchet wheel 31. A similar slide housing 49 is supported by leg portion 33 adjacent to ratchet wheel 38. Slidably disposed within housing 39 is a slide rod 32, the lower end of which is attached by a threaded coupling 43 to armature 44 of solenoid S82). A similar slide rod 55 is slidably received within the hOllSlllg la and is similarly attached to armature d'i of solenoid Sta. The inner surface of each housing directly opposite the adjacent ratchet wheel is slotted to permit the protrusion of the lower edges of two

dogs

48 and 49 mounted on

slide rods

52 and 55, respectively. Each dog is pivotally attached to its slide rod by a pivot screw 58 and is normally held by a tension spring 52 attached to the side of the housing so that the lower edge of the dog protrudes from the hous ing to engage and rotate the adjacent ratchet wheel upon downward movement of the slide rod but to slip past the ratchet wheel without rotating it when returned to its normal position by upward movement of the slide rod. The rotation of each dog about its pivot screw is limited by a pin 53, which is adapted to engage either side of a notch on the bottom edge of the dog. Each slide rod is normally held in the elevated position shown in the drawings by a tension spring 54, so that the dog carried by the slide is normally out of engagement with the adjacent ratchet wheel.

6. When either of the solenoids Sfia or 88b, is energized by an electric current, its armature and the connected slide rod are pulled downward against the tension of spring 54, and the dog carried by the slide rod engages and rotates the adjacent ratchet wheel through a fixed angular distance. When the current to the solenoid is interrupted, the spring 54 raises the armature, slide rod, and dog to their normal elevatedposition; during this operation, the dog turns on its pivot screw 50 against the tension of spring 52 and slips past the next succeeding tooth of the ratchet wheel without turning the wheel. The movement of either ratchet wheel (they rotate in opposite directions) rotates sprocket wheel 35 a corresponding amount; the rotation of the latter is in turn transmitted to counter 8 through a chain 55 and a sprocket wheel on the shaft of that counter. The ratio between those two sprocket wheels is such that counter 8 registers one unit plus (-1-) each time that solenoid 88a is energized and one unit minus each time that solenoid S8?) is energized.

In order to prevent any undesired rotation of sprocket wheel 35, either from vibration in the apparatus or from the friction of the dogs when moving upward to their normal positions, an adjustable friction brake is provided by a friction ball 56 that is urged against ratchet wheel 31 by a compression spring 51 held by an adjusting screw 58.

The various solenoids and motors previously mentioned for operating the eleven counters are controlled by a plurality of inter-connected relays designated by the general number 60 in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. The relays are shown mounted on a third panel 5!, the ends of which are attached to side frames below

panels

26 and 21. All three panels have a number of grommets 62 for the purpose of passing through the panels various electrical conductors not shown on the structural drawings. Similarly, there are shown on these panels a plurality of condensers 63 associated with each of the motors and with some of the relays, and a plurality of resistances 64 associated with some of the relays alone. There is also mounted on panel GI a rectifier 65 and a transformer 56 associated with it. The condensers 63 that are associated with each of the motors (see the wiring diagrams in Fig. 7) are the usual condensers supplied with synchronous motors to smooth out variations in current.

The mechanism for printing at predetermined intervals the values indicated by the various counters includes a web of paper 2| that is unwound from a supply roll 10 removably secured to the end frames. The paper passes over a shaft H and around a platen roll 12 to a rewind roll T3. The latter is removably supported by brackets 54 attached to the end frames. The platen roll 12 is rotatably supported at either end on brackets 16, and the paper is pressed tightly against this roll by conventional feed rolls 11, which are pivotally supported and urged by springs against the platen roll. The brackets l6 holding the platen roll are attached to two rocker arms 18 mounted on shaft H This shaft is free to rotate in bearings 79 supported by the side frames (see Figure 4). The rocker arms 18 are connected together by a reinforcing strip 80 to give them the necessary rigidity to act as one unit. The platen roll 12, which is supported by the rocker arms, is normally held a spaced distance above the row of counters on member 25 by two compression springs 82 mounted between the side frames and lateral extensions of the brackets 16. This spaced distance may be varied by raising or lowering an adjusting screw 83.

In order to print the values registered by the various counters, two solenoids 84, which are attached tothe side frames of the apparatus, have their armatures connected to the rocker arms 18. When these solenoids are energized, as hereinafter explained, their armatures are pulled downward, thereby turning the rocker arms about-their shaft 7! and bringing the paper 2| on the underside of the platen roll downward into forceful contact with an inked ribbon 86 that is stretched above the type faces of the counters (see Fig. 6). The values indicated by the counters are thereby printed on the paper. When the solenoids are deenergized, the rocker arms, platen roll, and paper return to their normal elevated position, as shown in Fig. 2.

The upward movement of the rocker arms it after the solenoids 84 are deenergized is used to actuate the paper feeding mechanism. On one end of the shaft of the platen roll 72 is rigidly mounted a ratchet wheel 81 that is adapted to be turned upon upward movement of the platen roll by a dog (not shown) pivotally supported on a bracket 88 attached to support member 25 (see Fig. 3). A sprocket Wheel 89 is also rigidly mounted on the platen roll shaft and connected by a chain 99 to a sprocket wheel on the shaft of rewind roll it; (see Fig. 4). Accordingly, after each printing operation, when the platen roll is carried upward by the rocker arms, the platen and rewind rolls are turned through a small angle and move the web of paper a short distance inpreparation for the next printing operation.

The inked ribbon 86 is moved intermittently by one of two

solenoids

92 and 93, which turn the ribbon spools 94 and 95, respectively, through conventional ratchet-pawl mechanisms within those spools. The ribbon is led through guides 96 to a position above the row of counters where it can cooperate in the printing operation as previously described. When the ribbon is unwound from either spool, limit switches are tripped to cut one of the solenoids out of the control circuit, so that the other solenoid can wind the ribbon back on the empty spool. The control circuit for operating solenoids Q2 and 93 are described below in connection with the various wiring diagrams.

The motors and solenoids previously described for operating the various counters are all connected into a common control circuit, which includes a plurality of interconnected electromagnetic relays and the two control switches A and B in control box 23. The control circuit is illustrated in Fig. '7, in which the numerous relays are represented for clarity as simple inductance coils. Each relay operates one or more pivoted relay arms, which are placed just above their associated relay and are identified by the same number as the relay, plus the letter a or b. The free ends of those arms are adapted to move between two electrical contacts. Normally, the arms are held away from the relay in the usual manner by a spring and rest against the left hand contact points as shown in Fig. 7. When a relay coil is energized by an electric current, its associated arm or arms move to the right against the right hand contact points.

Some of the relays (I63, Hi l, H5ii8, I29, iZi, Hit-I27, and I3i2i33) have condensers of appropriate capacity shunted across their terminals to provide a slight delay, of the order'of one-quarter second, when those relays are either energized or deenergized. In addition, four of the relays (H33, HM, I20, and i2!) have small inductances connected in series to reduce sparking. All of the delayed action relays operate on direct current from conductor r. One purpose of interposing delays in these particular relays is to permit the apparatus to suppress slight overlaps of interaction that could not in any event be differentiated from accidental overlaps caused by delayed reactions on the part of the observer. Another purpose, more fully adverted to below, is to permit momentary pulses of electric current to flow through the arms associated with those relays after the circuits to those relays are either closed or opened but before the arms have moved in response thereto.

The operation of all of the relays, except sequence relays led and l il, is controlled directly or indirectly by the two control switches A and which may be push buttons, keys, or other appropriate electrical switches adapted to make and break an electrical circuit. Each switch or key is directly connected to and controls four primary relays (shown along the bottom of Fig. '7). Key A controls primary relays llli, I05, H2, and 523; key B controls primary relays I32, I06, H3, and 229. When either key is in its open (up) position, no current flows to its associated primary relays, and the arms of those relays remain in their normal left hand positions. When either key is in its closed (down) position, its associated primary relays are energized, and the arms of those relays immediately swing over to their right hand positions and remain there for as long as the key remains down. In other words, each of the keys A and B, through the primary relays associated with it, has two operative positions: certain circuits (those connected through the primary relay arms in their left hand positions) are closed when the key is up; other circuits (those connected through the primary relay arms in their right hand positions) are closed when the key is down. Each key is normally held in its up position by a spring.

Keys A and B can be operated by'various means that are responsive to the actions of the individuals under observation; in the embodiment here illustrated they are adapted to be operated manually, preferably by an observer who watches the two persons whose behavior in interaction is to be recorded. When individual A acts, as by talking, gesturing, etc., the observer pushes down key A and holds it down for as long as Aremains active. When As activity ceases, the observer releases key A, which immediately assumes its up position. In the same way, key 3 is held down during the periods when B is active and is returned to its up position when B's activity ceases. It will be readily understood that, under some conditions of interaction b tween A and B, both keys may occupy the same operative positions at the same time, as when both A and B are silent (both keys up) or when one interrupts the other (both keys down).

Referring to Fig. .7, in the upper left hand corner is shown a plug me, which can be connected to a source of alternating current and delivers that current through conductors 1- and s to the various switches in control box 23. Those switches consist of the control switches, or keys, A and B previously described, an interaction switch C, a power switch D, and a signal switch E. Interaction switch C and power switch D supply current through conductors c and d,