The Computer Dance Study

• Walster et al (1966) also suggested the ‘computer dance’ study which was advertised for new students at the university of Minnesota. 177 males and 170 female participants were randomly selected to take part in the study
• During the computer dance study, participants were asked to complete a questionnaire, that they were told would be used to allocate them an ‘ideal’ partner for the evening, however, the pairings were randomly allocated. During an intermission in the dance, ps were given a questionnaire asking them how much they liked their partner, and whether they would like to see them again
• Once participants had met their dates, regardless of their own physical attractiveness, they responded more positively to physically attractive dates. Participants were more likely to try and arrange dates with their partner even if their partner was more physically attractive than themselves
• Factors like personality and intelligence didn’t affect liking the dates, or any subsequent attempts to date them
• These findings contradict the idea of matching on the basis of physical attractiveness and don’t support the matching hypothesis