Filter Theory Evaluation Flashcards
What is the mnemonic for this evaluation?
. P-opulation validity of Kirkchoff and Davis
. T-emporal validity
. S-upporting evidence - real-life application
. C-ultural validity
Explain how filter theory lacks temporal validity?
Social demography lacks temporal validity in filter theory
. Exposure to different people was much smaller back in the day without phones etc so social demography was important as your social connections were primarily from family businesses etc.
. This means that social demography may not be as important anymore
What supporting evidence is there for the importance of social demography?
Taylor (2010) found that in America, 85% of women married within their own ethnic groups, supporting the importance of social demography as it shows people subconsciously use a filter to eliminate those outside of their class, ethnic group etc from their field of desirables as they see most potential similarities through the lens of social demography
How is Taylor (2010) not very applicable today?
Lacks temporal validity
. People may not be as narrow-minded in who they choose to be with anymore
. American states at the time of the study may have been more contained within their own ethnic groups than is true in the world and for the cases of diverse countries (lacks population validity)
- diverse countries will be more integrated with people outside of their ‘social demography’ and will be less narrow-minded because of it
What were some methodological issues of the Kirkchoff and Davis study?
. Student couples (lacks population validity)
. Defined the depth of a relationship in terms of its length
- assumed partners who have been together longer than the 18-month cut off point were more committed and had a deeper relationship
Clearly filter theory is only really valid for short-term relationships as very long-term relationships don’t so much rely on similarity (demographically and in terms of attitudes) to be maintained but more on the investment.
