Abstract
In this paper, we describe a methodological alternative to the point-light display for the study of the impact of human movement on social perception. This quantization technique involves degrading standard videotapes via a special effects generator at the time of editing. As is the case with a point-light display, quantization disguises structural characteristics of videotaped stimulus persons, and highlights their patterns of movement. Because quantization requires no special procedures during videotaping, it is unobtrusive, and helps maintain the ecological validity of the original stimulus. We offer empirical support from two studies for our proposal that dynamic quantization is a valuable methodological approach to the study of nonverbal behavior.
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Portions of these data were presented at the Nags Head Conference on Interaction and Close Relationships, Nags Head, NC, May, 1990; and at the Perceiving and Acting Workshop, The Center for the Ecological Study of Perception and Action, University of Connecticut, August, 1990. This research was supported by a Sabbatical Research Support Grant from Southern Methodist University, and NIMH Grant # 1-R03-MH43850-01, awarded to Diane S. Berry; and NSF Grant #BNS-8719065 awarded to Reuben M. Baron. We are grateful to Frank Bernieri and the reviewers for their helpful comments regarding this manuscript.
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Berry, D.S., Kean, K.J., Misovich, S.J. et al. Quantized displays of human movement: A methodological alternative to the point-light display. J Nonverbal Behav 15, 81–97 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00998264
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00998264