Typically in observational research each behavior of a subject is assigned a code that represents theoretically relevant and contextually sensitive events. These discrete behavioral acts are then strung together to denote a process. With multiple interactants in the same field, the investigator has two choices: ignore subject interdependence and analyze as if the data strings are discrete; or treat the strings as interdependent and assign a unique code that represents the combined codes across subjects. Similarly, a single subject can have multiple simultaneous codes combined into a single code. In either situation, this combined code represents a state. This state code is a composite of information. If done well, a single string of these codes can adequately describe the process under scrutiny. Although numerous decisions must occur in constructing a state code, two are probably most important. First, can the base or underlying codes be quantified? Second, how does the state code construction affect subsequent data analysis and graphical presentation? Initially this paper will address these two primary decisions and provide some general guidelines about combinatorial processes. Several methods of combining codes will be shown using data drawn from couple interaction. Segments of video will be shown along with the resulting state codes. Next, the presenter will illustrate several data visualization techniques that help elucidate these state change processes over time. Although these decision rules and visualization techniques are illustrated with humans, data drawn from non-human interactions are equally applicable.