Research in the Real World

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I often lecture about important research in the field of relationship science, because I enjoy helping people break down the complex statistical findings and really understand what the researchers found. I also love making connections between the research and the real world. Research becomes interesting to many when they see how they can apply it and why it is useful.

The Research

Some of my favorite studies involve using questions to generate interpersonal closeness (see Aron, Melinat, Aron, Vallone, & Bator, 1997), how the color red can increase our perception of a person’s attractiveness (see Elliot & Niesta, 2008) and how misattribution of arousal can come into play when interpreting our feelings (see Dutton & Aron, 1974). The research has provided some very useful insights relating to attraction and bonding and also employed some very creative methodology.

Inevitably, after my lectures, a few people will approach me and ask how they can find their “perfect match.” Can they take the research and apply it to their lives in a very literal sense and meet the partner of their dreams? In essence, can they wear a red shirt, while asking a person closeness-generating questions on a shaky bridge and then fall in love?

The Problem

While I wish I could provide a simple answer or a clear prescription of exactly what is needed to find love, it’s not quite that simple. This isn’t to say that the research isn’t valuable- it certainly is! Over the past 30+ years, the subfield of relationship science has grown exponentially, and we have gained a better understanding of love, attraction, mate choice, bonding, as well as the dark side of relationships, which includes infidelity, conflict, and abuse. However, when it comes to social science research and research in general, we must be cognizant of the many potential pitfalls indirectly relating the findings to our own lives.

Many studies focus on homogeneous samples of college students. If you are of a different generational cohort, of a different ethnic background, or differ on any of the other demographic variables, the results may not generalize.

A great deal of research also comes from a heteronormic and a homonormative perspective. This means, that the research often treats a relationship as a dyad consisting of one man and one woman. Same-sex couples are underrepresented (though there has been a proliferation of research on these relationships). There is also very little research surrounding individuals who engage in consensual non-monogamy. As such, the findings may not apply.

Another major issue is conflating correlational data with experimental data. A correlational study is not a true experiment, and as such we must use caution when interpreting the findings. It does not describe a cause-and-effect relationship. Instead, we can only describe a relationship between variables. Therefore, if you get married at a young age, while you may potentially be at a higher risk for divorce, marrying young will not inevitably lead to divorce.

The ability to generalize the results may also be problematic when it comes to relating the findings to people in a different environment. As mentioned before, many researchers use college students, who are in a unique setting, one which is not necessarily the same as the real world. In addition, research subjects, especially those participating for college credit or for their professors, may be extremely susceptible to the social desirability bias. As a result, the findings may not actually tap into the participants’ true feelings or beliefs.

The Take-Away

Again, I hope that I am not undermining how important research actually is. If we don’t ask questions and investigate to find answers, we will never begin to chip away at understanding human emotions or behavior. We have come a long way, and the future of relationship research is bright. However, it is important to be cognizant that while we can certainly take away useful information from the research, we can’t necessarily chart out a way to find our perfect match with complete certainty. We don’t live in a vacuum devoid of confounding variables, nor would we want to. It is the uncertainty and the unpredictability that adds to the excitement of love and life.