15.1 Introduction

15.1.1 Interpersonal Phenomena

Many of the phenomena studied by health, behavioral and social science researchers are implicitly interpersonal.

However, we rarely evaluate or investigate these phenomena outside of the individual that reported it.

For example, how an individual feels about another individual is a function of (a) the characteristics of the reporting individual, and (b) characteristics of the relationship between the two individuals. In this case, such a measurement would be inherently dyadic.

15.1.2 Dyadic Measurement

A dyadic measurement is a measurement arising from the potentially differential contributions of two individuals.

Typically, a dyad refers to people, but may describe anything that consists of two elements or parts.

Below are a few examples of dyadic research paradigms provided by Kenny, Kashy and Cook (2006):

• Members of a romantic relationship evaluating their relationship
• Self-disclosures made by two people interacting as a measure of social reciprocity.
• Two persons are asked to describe a common target to gauge agreement in their perceptions
• Family members describe some aspect of their relationships with eachother

15.1.3 Discussion question

1. Given its clear importance, why has academic social science research tended to focus on the individuals while ignoring many of the interpersonal features common to these phenomena?

2. What is an example from your own research where interpersonal features are commonly ignored.