A novel method to quantitatively analyze the domain reversal behavior has been adopted to understand the total-thickness-dependent domain reversal behavior in Co/Pd multilayers. The wall-motion speed and the nucleation rate were simultaneously determined by analyzing serial domain images observed using a real-time domain observation system. Using this method, sensitive decrement of the wall-motion speed with increasing total multilayer thickness has been found to be responsible for the contrasting reversal behavior in Co/Pd multilayers. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(98)49211-9].