Newcomb (1961)

• Aim:

  To test the similarity-attraction hypothesis - the idea that people are attracted to those who share similar attitudes to their own.
• Research Method:

  Longitudinal study using questionnaires
• Procedure:


  1. Participants: 17 male students from a U.S. university
  2. Students filled out questionnaires about their attitudes and values before arriving at the university
  3. Subsequent questionnaires were completed during the first semester
  4. Variables measured: Attraction between students and attitude changes
• Results:

  1. In the first few weeks, attraction was primarily related to proximity
  2. As the semester progressed, attraction shifted to those with similar attitudes
  3. 58% of participants paired with roommates holding similar attitudes formed friendships
  4. Only 25% formed friendships with roommates expressing different attitudes
• Conclusion:


  The research supports the idea that people gravitate towards those who share similar views.
• Strengths:

  1. High ecological validity: The study occurred in a real-life setting without researcher manipulation
  2. Longitudinal design: Allowed for observation of changes over time
  3. Validated responses: Students' actual choices as the semester progressed confirmed their reported preferences
  4. Cross-cultural support: Findings align with other studies, like Brewer's 1961 study in East Africa
• Limitations:

  1. Small sample size: Only 17 participants, limiting generalizability
  2. Gender bias: All participants were male, restricting applicability to females
  3. Cultural limitations: Focused on U.S. university students, may not apply to other cultures or demographics
  4. Potential for social desirability bias: Questionnaire responses might be influenced by participants' desire to please researchers