The Victoria Microanalysis Associates are Dr. Janet Bavelas, Dr. Jennifer Gerwing, Sara Healing, and Christine Tomori. We have developed the method of microanalysis of dialogue, which is the reliable moment-by-moment examination of actual communication sequences (usually in video), with an emphasis on how they function within a dialogue. Microanalysis is useful or even essential in some kinds of basic research, practical applications, and training.

We teach workshops that apply the most current research findings and analysis techniques to applied communication settings, such as psychotherapy, health care interactions, and teaching or coaching. These workshops is unique in several respects:

• The approach to communication is derived from and supported by two decades of solid experimental lab research, rather than simply coming from the opinions of experts.
• It focuses on communication in dialogue as co-constructive, rather than emphasizing individual skills.
• It is descriptive rather than prescriptive; that is, the research studies are discovering how people naturally and skillfully construct their dialogues, rather than assuming that they need to learn how to communicate.
• The learning is hands-on and interactive. There are demonstrations, video examples, interactive discussions, and frequent practice within small groups or as individuals.

There are one-, two-, and three-day workshops. The shorter workshops introduce basic concepts, and the longer ones include learning and practicing microanalysis with useful technological tools. Each workshop focuses on the participants’ professional context and their particular goals (e.g., examining their own practices, doing training and supervision, or conducting research).

Contact: bavelas [at] uvic [dot] ca