Secondary and within‐session analyses to improve the feasibility and precision of assessments of sociability

Morris et al. (2023) asked a simple question: can we skip long, second-by-second coding and still measure how social someone is?

They ran a single session and counted two things only: first approach and later avoid moves. Then they checked if these quick counts matched the full, minute-by-minute sociability scores.

The short counts lined up almost perfectly with the long coding. One session gave a clear, trustworthy picture of the person’s sociability.

Within-session trends also showed when interest rose or fell, helping clinicians see exactly what happened and when.

LeFrancois et al. (1993) did the same trick first. They plotted self-injury minute-by-minute and got the same answer as a long FA. Morris copies that logic for sociability, proving the shortcut still works 30 years later.

Tassé et al. (2013) already used simple approach/avoid counts to spot which social interactions work as reinforcers. Morris shows the same counts can also stand alone as a quick sociability test.

Faja et al. (2023) compared eight full-length social scales. Morris offers a faster option that could sit beside those tools when time is short.

You can now size up sociability in one brief meeting. Count the first move toward and the later move away. That is it. No stopwatches, no long coding sheets. Use the saved time to plan treatment or train staff.