Filter theory

• KEY STUDY: Kerkhoff and Davis procedure

  • Longitudinal study of 94 dating couples at duke university
  • Two questionnaires = one measuring similarity of attitudes the other measuring complementarity of needs
  • 7 months later completed another questionnaire assessing how close they felt to their partner compared to the start of the study
• KEY STUDY: Kerkhoff and Davis findings

  • Those dating for less than 18 months similarity in attitudes was the biggest predictor of closeness
  • Those dating for more than 18 months complementarity of needs is the biggest predictor of closeness
• What does the results of Kerkhoff and Davis tell us?

  • filter theory plays a role of in the formation of relationships
  • some filters play a bigger role than others depending if the relationship is long or short term
• Evaluation…. (couples)

  • sample of real life couples
  • high ecological validity = representative of real life situation
  • can be generalised = can draw accurate conclusions about factors affecting relation ships = practical applications (marriage counselling)
• Evaluation… (method)

  • longitudinal study
  • allows lots of data to be collected and can track changes in relationships and investigate why they occur
  • can establish causal relationships = high internal validity
  • time consuming = cost-benefit analysis
• Evaluation… (sample)

  • Cultural bias
  • Sample from American university = individualistic culture = does give us information about collectivist cultures
  • low population validity = can’t be generalised