TY - JOUR
T1 - The treatment of relationship status in research on dating and mate selection
AU - Surra, Catherine A.
AU - Boettcher-Burke, Tyfany M.J.
AU - Cottle, Nathan R.
AU - West, Adam R.
AU - Gray, Christine R.
PY - 2007/2
Y1 - 2007/2
N2 - The relationship status of study participants (e.g., daters, cohabitors, marrieds, or unmarrieds) has implications for understanding dating and mate selection. Procedures used in studies may blur or ignore status distinctions. The authors examined methods used in 791 studies published from 1991 - 2001. Most commonly, status of participants is unspecified, and different statuses are collapsed for analysis. Status of participants is associated with recruitment method, and type (e.g., romantic, friendship) and form (e.g., perceived, current) of relationship measured. Unspecified samples are associated with research on the topics of universal properties or causal conditions, and specified samples with mate selection. The connection between status and topic is becoming more blurred over time. Recommendations for studying and reporting status are provided.
AB - The relationship status of study participants (e.g., daters, cohabitors, marrieds, or unmarrieds) has implications for understanding dating and mate selection. Procedures used in studies may blur or ignore status distinctions. The authors examined methods used in 791 studies published from 1991 - 2001. Most commonly, status of participants is unspecified, and different statuses are collapsed for analysis. Status of participants is associated with recruitment method, and type (e.g., romantic, friendship) and form (e.g., perceived, current) of relationship measured. Unspecified samples are associated with research on the topics of universal properties or causal conditions, and specified samples with mate selection. The connection between status and topic is becoming more blurred over time. Recommendations for studying and reporting status are provided.
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1741-3737.2006.00354.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1741-3737.2006.00354.x
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:33846424215
SN - 0022-2445
VL - 69
SP - 207
EP - 221
JO - Journal of Marriage and Family
JF - Journal of Marriage and Family
IS - 1
ER -