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Introduction to Research Methods

Introduction to Introduction to Research Methods

Robinson et al. (2017) define assortative mating as a form of random yet non-random type of mating and selection based on attributes and observable characteristics of the individuals. The increased and upsurged digital transformations and technological platforms such as social media sites and dating apps have promoted the phenomenon of assortative mating in the current societal activity. The study propounded by Neyt et al. (2020) is based on the finding and analysis of what kind of behavioral and personality traits have been in the follow-up by the seekers in the current scenario.

Summary of the Article

In the present scenario where digital transformations and social media and networking platforms have stretched the pace for social connectivity, the assortative mating has also witnessed a great rise in the recent trends by the effect of different social media and dating websites such as Tinder (Potarca, 2017).

The research study is based on the concept of assortative mating and the analysis of preferences in the terms of behavior and personality characteristics by the effect of personality models such as the Big Five Force of models and other relevant tools in practice. The research provides the analysis that the recent assortative mating experiences have been observed to carry a higher involvement of personality, age, attractiveness, and similarity of perception as the basic characteristics in the partner (Tuncay, 2019).

The research propounded by Neyt et al. (2020) is placed on three hypotheses and its reasoning to generate the findings of the research proposed. The researcher has taken into account 7,8,46 profiles of aspirants or Tinder users followed by the profiles of other apps as well such as OkCupid and Match.com. In the initial discussions installed, the research seeks to identify if there exists the inducement of the age factor in assortative dating. The findings on the similar argument state that the age factor has a higher inclination to the assortative dating not only at the online or digital platforms but also in the offline dating examination.

In the further study analyzed by Neyt et al. (2019), attractiveness as an assortative force of personality has also been in the focus of the research. The research conducted also focused on the identification of attractiveness as a factor and its levels as an attribute of assortative dating preferences and resulted in the finding that at both the levels, attractiveness as a personality factor has been less involved in the search of a potential partner.

Finally, as analyzed by Luo (2017) and Sterbova et al. (2017), the Big Five Personality Traits model as the framework of identification of personality traits and their involvement in the assortative dating has been instituted where the study concluded that there is a higher involvement of the Big Five Personality traits in all types of mating as the aspirants or seekers aim to partner with someone regarding the similar infusion of the personality attributes such as openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

Critical Evaluation of The Article

As analyzed by Conroy-Beam & Buss (2016), human mate selection has been a common event since eras where the buzz has been made by the steep advent of the assortative mating that has been defined as the linking or pairing of individuals on the judgment of the opposite’s characteristics and its level of significance with that of the self. The list of characteristics that are generally a part of the assortative mating includes demographic, behavioral, and other relevant attributes including race, status, age, etc.

Neyt et al. (2018) argue that the arena of assortative mating has seen an upsurge awakening with the advent of digital transformation that has benefited the technological revolutions to establish common platforms of connectivity and social networking by way of social media platforms such as mobile dating apps (MDA), for instance, Tinder.

The research further focuses on identifying the age as the factor of dependence in the assortative mating on two different platforms viz. MDAs and offline or traditional mode of mating. Core research conducted by Neyt et al. (2020) has been fruitful in the justification that the age factor acts as the strongest factor in the acknowledgment of preferential mating. Out of all the factors considered in the study, age has been the strongest element in the setting up of correlation between two personalities (Tuncay, 2019).

In a similar approach, the study also iterates that the Big Five Personality traits also have a significant play in the analysis and finding of a perfect partner in the assortative mating at any platform, offline and online. While some authors take few of these traits into consideration, Youyou et al. (2017) articulate that the five elements of personality i.e. openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism constitutes for a concentrated association with the assortative mating selection preference where people usually seek to find the opposite partner to constitute the similar personality factors.

Further analyzed by Luo (2017), the study has also concluded the gender-based mating preferences by stating that while both males and females seek a competent partner, the females usually symbolize a more discriminatory preference as compared to males concerning personality characteristics. Also, females have been witnessed to be lead approaching in the personality suitability factors as compared to men where women exhibit a greater force on each involved factor in the judgment of mating preference, for example, age as compared to that of men as they are less prone in exhibiting the age and attractiveness in the preferences (Kopp et al., 2018).

Overall, the study propounds the age factor to be the strongest and most affecting variable followed by the Big Five Personality traits and lastly the attractiveness factors in the assortative mating preferences.

Conclusion on Introduction to Research Methods

Assortative mating has been in the trend for ages. Moreover, as concluded in the study, age acts as the prominent factor in the mating preferences as partners usually seek to correlate with the other person of similar age followed by the personality factors and lastly the attractiveness.

To conclude, the online and offline assortative mating approaches have been quite identical in several areas as propounded by the study irrespective of the limitations served by the author such as examination of western cultured people only, the inclusion of limited personality factors, and many more that could prove vital in the study records.

References for Introduction to Research Methods

Conroy-Beam, D., & Buss, D. M. (2016). How are mate preferences linked with actual mate selection? Tests of mate preference integration algorithms using computer simulations and actual mating couples. PloS one, 11(6), 0156078. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0156078.

Kopp, M., Servedio, M. R., Mendelson, T. C., Safran, R. J., Rodríguez, R. L., Hauber, M. E., Scordato, E. C., Symes, L. B., Balakrishnan, C. N., Zonana, D. M. & Van Doorn, G. S. (2018). Mechanisms of assortative mating in speciation with gene flow: Connecting theory and empirical research. The American Naturalist, 191(1), 1-20.

Luo, S. (2017). Assortative mating and couple similarity: Patterns, mechanisms, and consequences. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 11(8), 12337. https://doi.org/10.1111/spc3.12337.

Neyt, B., Baert, S., & Vandenbulcke, S. (2020). Never mind I'll find someone like me–Assortative mating preferences on Tinder. Personality and Individual Differences, 155, 109739. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2019.109739.

Neyt, B., Vandenbulcke, S., & Baert, S. (2018). Education level and mating success: Undercover on Tinder. IZA Institute of Labor Economics. Retrieved from: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3294148.

Neyt, B., Vandenbulcke, S., & Baert, S. (2019). Are men intimidated by highly educated women? Undercover on Tinder. Economics of Education Review, 73, 101914. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econedurev.2019.101914.

Potarca, G. (2017). Does the internet affect assortative mating? Evidence from the US and Germany. Social Science Research, 61, 278-297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2016.06.019.

Robinson, M. R., Kleinman, A., Graff, M., Vinkhuyzen, A. A., Couper, D., Miller, M. B., Peyrot, W. J., Abdellaoui, A., Zietsch, B. P., Nolte, I. M., Vliet-Ostaptchouk, J. V., Snieder, H., & van Vliet-Ostaptchouk, J. V. (2017). Genetic evidence of assortative mating in humans. Nature Human Behaviour, 1(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-016-0016.

Št?rbová, Z., Bártová, K., Nováková, L. M., Varella, M. A. C., Havlí?ek, J., & Valentova, J. V. (2017). Assortative mating in personality among heterosexual and male homosexual couples from Brazil and the Czech Republic. Personality and Individual Differences, 112, 90-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.02.036.

Tuncay, M. A. (2019). Assortative Mating and Inequality. Knowledge@UChicago: Open Access Repository for Documents, Data, and Media. Retrieved from: https://knowledge.uchicago.edu/record/1881.

Youyou, W., Stillwell, D., Schwartz, H. A., & Kosinki, M. (2017). Birds of a feather do flock together: Behavior-based personality-assessment method reveals personality similarity among couples and friends. Psychological Science, 28(3), 276-284. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0956797616678187.

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