ABSTRACT
Group interaction is a process. It is not merely a set of messages, nor is it only a series of messages. It is a series of messages that influence subsequent group interaction and/or reflect underlying rules of interaction such as phases that sequentially structure group interaction (cf. Hewes, 2009d; Poole, 1983b). This was recognized by some of the original framers of group behavior (Bales & Strodbeck, 1951; Fisher, 1970; McGrath & Altman, 1966) and it was showcased in classic, if formidable essays on the mathematics of group processes (Arrow, Karlin, & Suppes, 1960; Coleman, 1964). If temporal patterns of interaction are central to the study of groups, then to understand groups fully, it is important to have methods for characterizing and testing theories of group interaction.
