"Kenny, Dave (The Dyadic Statistics Guy)"

At the recent Social Psychologists in Texas (SPIT) conference (see entry below), I was talking to some people when the topic of dyadic analysis came up. If a researcher is studying, for example, romantic partners or college roommates, special kinds of statistical analyses are required. I vowed on the spot to write a song about dyadic analysis, and the present entry contains the fruits of my work.

Probably the best-known contributor to dyadic analysis within social psychology is David Kenny of the University of Connecticut; not suprisingly, he has an extensive website on dyadic analysis, as well as ones on other statistical and methodological topics. Naturally, Dr. Kenny would have to be featured prominently in my song.

While thinking on-and-off about ideas for the song over the past week, I heard the Beatles' song "Penny Lane" on the radio. I then realized that by using a last-name-first format, "Kenny, Dave," would be a good fit. With that inspiration, I give you the song...

Kenny, Dave (The Dyadic Statistics Guy)
Lyrics by Alan Reifman
(May be sung to the tune of “Penny Lane,” Lennon/McCartney)

So much psychology, studies individuals,
But in pairs, so much of social life occurs,
Duos can be analyzed, for sure,
With the right approach,

Kenny, Dave, pioneered dyadic analysis,
So that models were, properly specified,
And all the assumptions, satisfied,
It gave him much pride,
All in stride,

Kenny, Dave, the dyadic, statistics guy,
A technique for those, who aren’t shy,
Come on, give it a try,

One must ascertain, if partners are exchangeable,
And check for variance, between and within,
The complexity, is setting in,
Oh the road you pave, Kenny, Dave,

(Interlude)

Kenny, Dave, the dyadic, statistics guy,
A technique for those, who aren’t shy,
Come on, give it a try…

What's called the "APIM," is a model, of dyadic paths,
Actor effects, within a person, straightaway,
And that's not all, this type of model does,
There is more in play,

You can draw, an arrow, from one person's predictor,
Right to the other's, dependent var-i-a-ble,
The name for, this new kind, of pathway,
Is "partner effect,"
That's correct!

Kenny, Dave, the dyadic, statistics guy,
A technique for those, who aren’t shy,
Come on, give it a try…

Kenny, Dave, the dyadic, statistics guy,
A technique for those, who aren’t shy,
Come on, give it a try…

Kenny, Dave!

Social Psychologists in Texas "SPIT" 2008

The social psych group at my home institution, Texas Tech University, will be this year's host of the annual Social Psychologists in Texas (SPIT) conference. Dick McGlynn, Texas Tech's lead organizer of the meeting, was kind enough to put me (an honorary social psychologist based in human development and family studies) on the schedule for a musical tribute to SPIT, which I will present at the closing session this upcoming Saturday. The flavor of SPIT meetings is conveyed in this sporadically updated SPIT website.

I've written lyrics for four SPIT-specific songs, as shown below. Two are general songs about the conference, whereas the other two are dedicated to visiting speakers. One of the speakers is James "Jamie" Pennebaker from the University of Texas-Austin, who I will introduce via song. He is well-known for two decades of research on how expressing one's feelings during times of stress can improve health. [2015 Update: One of Pennebaker's students, Molly Ireland, has been at Texas Tech the past couple of years.]  The other visitor fulfills a SPIT tradition, that of bringing back a former Texas-based social psychologist who has moved elsewhere. Our "boomerang" speaker is Jeff Simpson, who a few years ago left Texas A&M to go back to his graduate-school alma mater, the University of Minnesota. Here are the songs...

Hope You Enjoyed SPIT!
Lyrics by Alan Reifman
(May be sung to the tune of “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” Irving Berlin)

Here in Lubbock, you have seen,
What social psychology,
In the Lone Star State’s, about,
The best, were here, with no doubt,

It’s a, yearly tradition,
B’havior, affect, cognition,
That’s what we, look into,
And, hear findings, so new…

A chance to sit,
For presentations, tightly knit,
And observations, full of wit,
Hope you enjoyed SPIT!

And, in a bit,
We will look for, who shows the grit,
To win the award, for spi-rit,
Hope you enjoyed SPIT!

Darcy, Dick, Jeff, Clyde, and other Tech-ies,
Sought to provide a program, that did please,
They did, their best,

Before you split,
I’ve written up a, music skit,
We hope our meeting, was a hit…
Hope you enjoyed SPIT!


Dr. Pennebaker
Lyrics by Alan Reifman
(May be sung to the tune of “Please Mr. Postman;” writing credited to various combinations of Dobbins, Garrett, Holland, Bateman, and Gorman; popularized by the Marvelettes and the Beatles)

(Back-up vocals in parentheses)

(Wait) SPIT’s ver-y own, Dr. Pennebaker,
(Wait) He-ee-e’s a real, headline maker,

Many people, endure great stress (oh yeah),
What’s key are feelings, these you must express,
(Please, please, Dr. Pennebaker)
So think about, why you’re so troubled (oh yeah),
Let those thoughts, burst out of their bubble,

Go ahead, says Dr. P.,
You need to let your, feelings run free,
Once you manage, to cross that line,
Only then, will you start to feel fine,

Dig deep down, says Dr. Pennebaker,
So-oh-oh complee-eet-ly,
At first, it may be, tough to disclose,
But then it comes, so much more easily,

(Please Dr. P)
Dr. P., address this notion (oh yeah),
Many don’t like to, discuss emotion,
(Please, please)
People can be, quite resistant (oh yeah),
But disclosing improves, your immune system,

Holding it in, is quite tough work,
Deep down inside, the problems lurk,
Sit yourself down, write it in a letter,
After a while, you should feel better,

(Dr. Pennebaker)

You’ll understand, says Dr. P.,
You’ll process events, with more coherency,
You’ll attain, more mental closure,
When you engage, in this disclosure,

You’ve got to,
Write about it, write about it (oh yeah),
Write about it, write about it (oh yeah),

You’ve got to,
Write about it, write about it (oh yeah),

Check out JPSP, with the writings of Dr. P.,

You’ve go to,
Write about it, write about it (oh yeah),
Write about it, write about it (oh yeah),

(Dr. Penn-eh-eh-eh-baker, oh yeah)

Write out your letter, you will feel better,

You’ve got to,
Write about it, write about it (oh yeah),
Write about it, write about it (oh yeah),

You’ve got to,
Write about it, write about it (oh yeah),
Write about it, write about it (oh yeah),
Write about it, write about it (oh yeah)…


Ol’ Jeff Simpson
Lyrics by Alan Reifman
(May be sung to the tune of “Old Dan Tucker,” Bruce Springsteen, We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions)

Ol’ Jeff Simpson, was at A&M,
Came to SPIT, time and again,
His Ph.D. is, from the U. of Minn.,
Since ’04, that’s where he’s been,

Glad you came to Tech, Ol’ Jeff Simpson,
Not maroon, we’re black and crimson,
Hope you enjoyed, our annual follies,
Back in Texas, with old SPIT colleagues,

Jeff studies, adult attachment,
Looks at couplings, that are nascent,
Affect, trust, and partners’ ideals,
He tests what, each of these reveals,

Glad you came to Tech, Ol’ Jeff Simpson,
Not maroon, we’re black and crimson,
Hope you enjoyed, our annual follies,
Back in Texas, with old SPIT colleagues…


Up in the West of Texas
Lyrics by Alan Reifman
(May be sung to the tune of “Deep in the Heart of Texas,” Swander/Hershey; click here for the music)

Our host, McGlynn, near 40 years, has been (clap, clap, clap, clap),
Up in the West of Texas,
He set out to list, social psychologists (clap, clap, clap, clap),
Throughout the rest of Texas,

From San Antone, up to the Cowboys’ home (clap, clap, clap, clap),
He brought the best in Texas,
Thank you for coming to, our campus, TTU (clap, clap, clap, clap),
Affirming our SPIT nexus...