Research Methods Flashcards
Define lab experiments
Defined by the high level of control the researcher has over all the variables in the study
The experimenter will control environmental factors
Define filter theory and who suggested it?
Kirchhoff and Davi’s 1962 suggest that there are certain limiting factors that affect the choice of partners. We only become attracted to those who pass through a series of filters. (Field of availables and field of desirables)
What are the 3 filters that affect relationships ?
Social demography, attitudes, complemetarity
What is social demography and how can it affect a relationship ?
We are more likely to come into contact with some people more than others due to how we spend our time. These will be linked to characteristics like social class,level of education and economic status
How can similarity of attitudes influence relationships ?
Due to social demography it is likely that we will come into contact with people with similar core values these people are seen as more attractive/ compatible this helps with self disclosure at the start of relationships
What is the complementarity filter and how can it affect relationships?
We are attracted to those people who provide for our emotional needs in this way partners can have differences that are mutually beneficial for example one partner might like organising social actives while the other might enjoy them being organised for them.
What study did Kirchhoff and Davi’s 1962 investigate of filters?
Conducted a 7m questionnaire on views and based longitudinal study using student couples who had either been together for more or less than 18 months found similarity of attitudes was the most important factor for short term relationships and complemetarity was the most importnat factor in long term relationships
What can be criticised about the sample used in Kirchhoff and Davi’s study ?
The sample used may not be generalisable to populations outside young, educated Americans
What did Taylor 2010 find in his relationship study?
Americans who married in 1998 85% of them married from within their own ethnic groups. A finding from the real world supporting that social demographics strongly influence the selection of partners.
What is the problem with the filter definition assuming correlation not causation?
The similarity in partners may be a result not of selection but a convergence if beleifs and values through communication complementary may not be selected for but be developed due to each partner finding their role within a relationship
Why is it posssible that the filter theory lacks temporal validity?
Filters are now starting to break down, virtual relationships lack the filtering as apps like tinder isn’t filtering social class,education or ethnicity it could be argued there’s a greater focus on physical attraction
Why might the filter theory lack temporal validly due to ethnicity?
Relationship formation across ethnicities and cultures is more acceptable and likely dur to increased globalisation and migration.
Define halo effect
People with the physical characteristics of physical attractiveness are also assumed to be as successful in other areas of life i.e. intelligent, hardworking
This can result in others interacting more positively towards them resulting in the actually becoming more successful
What is the matching hypothesis?
We can’t all mate with the most attractive members of our population so we look for partners on our level and retain from choosing someone who will leave us for someone else
What did murstein 1972 matching photographs study?
Used photographs of 197 couples. Photographs of each partner alone were used so each person could be judged individually eight judges rated the individual photographs according to attractiveness found photographs of couples were consistently given a similar attractiveness rating compared to randomly matched pairs
