title: Comparing thin slices of verbal communication behavior of varying number and duration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of thin slices to characterize the verbal communication behavior of counselors and patients engaged in Motivational Interviewing sessions relative to fully coded sessions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four thin slice samples that varied in number (four versus six slices) and duration (one- versus two-minutes) were extracted from a previously coded dataset. In the parent study, an observational code scheme was used to characterize specific counselor and patient verbal communication behaviors. For the current study, we compared the frequency of communication codes and the correlations among the full dataset and each thin slice sample.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both the proportion of communication codes and strength of the correlation demonstrated the highest degree of accuracy when a greater number (i.e., six versus four) and duration (i.e., two- versus one-minute) of slices were extracted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that thin slice sampling may be a useful and accurate strategy to reduce coding burden when coding specific verbal communication behaviors within clinical encounters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest researchers interested in using thin slice sampling in their own work conduct preliminary research to determine the number and duration of thin slices required to accurately characterize the behaviors of interest.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Prevention Research Center, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, USA. Electronic address: acarcone@med.wayne.edu.
authors.forename: April Idalski
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Carcone
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Prevention Research Center, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, USA.
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naar
authors.affiliation: Population Studies and Disparities Program, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, USA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eggly
authors.affiliation: Population Studies and Disparities Program, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, USA.
authors.forename: Tanina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.affiliation: Population Studies and Disparities Program, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, USA.
authors.forename: Terrance L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.affiliation: Dietetics and Nutrition, Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Brogan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D062405:Motivational Interviewing / Q000379:methods*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D014705:Verbal Behavior
keywords: Behavioral coding; Behavioral intervention, motivational interviewing; Obesity; Patient-provider communication; Thin slices