SPREAD - Open-source Toolbox for Quantifying Behavioural Contagion Dynamics

This repository provides the open-source R toolbox implementing SPREAD, a unified conceptual and statistical framework for quantifying behavioural contagion in time-series interaction data.

SPREAD uses permutation-based analyses to distinguish contagion from chance, resolve latency-specific dynamics, control for behavioural base rates, and accommodate social configuration. The toolbox includes R scripts, a detailed README, and anonymised event-level data from two case studies of laughter and eating in human triads. These case studies demonstrate the complete analytical workflow and evaluate SPREAD across behaviours with distinct temporal dynamics.