ABSTRACT
Statistical analyses that focus on categorical data tend to be underdeveloped compared to other methods. Yet, psychological phenomena are replete with processes of categorical change (Long, 1997). This disparity is re°ected strongly within the context of nonlinear patterns of change in categorical time series as well. A clear example of this methodological shortage exists within family therapy research, where °ows of categorical change during family conversations are of critical focus to family therapists, yet have remained off limits to most researchers. At the same time, static, independent, and readily quanti‡able data tendtobeoffocustoresearchers,yieldingresultsthatarelessrelevantto clinicians (Snyder & Kazak, 2005).
