Markey and Markey (2007)

• Aim: 


  To investigate the extent to which similarity is a factor in how people choose partners.
• Research Method: 


  Questionnaire-based survey
• Procedure:


  1. Participants: Self-selected sample of 169 undergraduate students (103 female, 66 male), mean age 19, who were single but interested in finding a partner.
  2. Participants were asked to describe the psychological characteristics, values, and attitudes of their ideal romantic partner, without thinking of anyone in particular.
  3. The same participants were then asked to rate themselves on the same characteristics.
  4. Filler questionnaires were included to disguise the true purpose of the study.
• Results:

  The way participants described themselves was similar to their descriptions of their ideal partner. For example, those who described themselves as warm also described their ideal partner as warm.
• Conclusion: 


  People's ideal partner tends to be similar to themselves. We seem to be attracted to people who are just like us.
• Strengths:

  1. Relatively large sample size, enhancing reliability.
  2. Included both genders, increasing generalizability.
  3. Use of filler questions helped avoid demand characteristics.
  4. A follow-up study with real couples confirmed the initial findings, adding ecological validity.
• Limitations:

  1. Correlational design makes it difficult to establish causation between similarity and attraction.
  2. Self-report measures may lack reliability due to social desirability bias or lack of self-awareness.
  3. Sample consisted of young American students, limiting generalizability to other populations or cultures.
  4. Use of hypothetical situations in the first study may not accurately predict real-life partner choices.
  5. The research may be somewhat outdated given rapid changes in dating practices due to technology.