Matching Hypothesis Studies

Psychology: AQA A Level, topic 9.1.4

Walster et al (1966) — Computer Dance Study

Walster et al (1966) aimed to test a theory first suggested by Erving Goffman called the "matching hypothesis”.

Walster et al (1966) randomly paired 752 1st year Minnesota students into “blind-date” couples for a university dance.
Each of the 752 students in Walster’s study completed questionnaires measuring their various qualities e.g. social skills, intelligence and so on.
Their physical attractiveness was assessed on entry to the dance. The prediction of the researchers was that participants would like their randomly allocated partners more if they were well matched according to their questionnaires.

To the surprise of the researchers, the matching hypothesis was not supported.
The only factor that the participants were interested in was physical attractiveness.

Strengths
Easy to replicate.
Standardised study.
Limitations
Temporal validity – in the 1960s, stereotypical gender roles were very different. Women would have been less likely to ask men out.
Ethics.
Participants had already been on a date, so did not need to fear rejection.

Murstein (1972) investigated whether or not married couples choose a partner with a similar level of attractiveness to themselves.

Naïve participants were asked to rate individual photographs of married couples for attractiveness.

Results
A positive correlation of attractiveness ratings was discovered between the photographs of the married men and women.
Conclusion
This provides evidence to support the matching hypothesis theory - that people choose a partner with a similar level of attractiveness to themselves.