The Dating Data
The Dating Data
By Christina Martin and Karen Prather
Most people know the age old tale detailing how Cinderella stormed the castle looking for prince
charming, which then resulted in the prince looking for her house-by-house with a glass slipper
that would fit only his perfect woman. As history has progress, dating became much simpler,
with more complex emotions as we ventured as a society past the prospects of dowry to a courting
system more equally representing the desires of men and women. In the modern age, people are
downloading apps and swiping left or right, which has become the new normal for hunting down
“the one” who fits your glass slipper. We are able to take a look even closer at what draws us to find
our partners. Data is a huge part of what makes dating apps work. Pairing you with people that you
are compatible with or even seeing if opposites do attract.
charming, which then resulted in the prince looking for her house-by-house with a glass slipper
that would fit only his perfect woman. As history has progress, dating became much simpler,
with more complex emotions as we ventured as a society past the prospects of dowry to a courting
system more equally representing the desires of men and women. In the modern age, people are
downloading apps and swiping left or right, which has become the new normal for hunting down
“the one” who fits your glass slipper. We are able to take a look even closer at what draws us to find
our partners. Data is a huge part of what makes dating apps work. Pairing you with people that you
are compatible with or even seeing if opposites do attract.
The insights we can gain from data collected on modern dating can be used to find the “love potion”
that makes relationships work in the era of technology-based human interaction and because of that,
we wanted to ask a simple question: What differences exist between modern courtship motives and
behaviors of different sections of the population? We pulled from two data sets that explain what
modern courtships are looking for as well as if and how dating apps are in a way affecting that.
that makes relationships work in the era of technology-based human interaction and because of that,
we wanted to ask a simple question: What differences exist between modern courtship motives and
behaviors of different sections of the population? We pulled from two data sets that explain what
modern courtships are looking for as well as if and how dating apps are in a way affecting that.
In a survey done in 2003 at speed dating event with 8.377 responses, we found that men
weigh attractiveness heavier than any other attribute. Women find being intelligent to be the
most important. This data came from professors at the Columbia School of Business and result
from a survey they gave to participants in a speed-dating experiment.
weigh attractiveness heavier than any other attribute. Women find being intelligent to be the
most important. This data came from professors at the Columbia School of Business and result
from a survey they gave to participants in a speed-dating experiment.
Participants were asked at various point in a speed dating event to distribute 100 points among
the six attributes many people use to select a partner. Allocating points based on their importance
to the respondent in mate selection, the surveyed determined their perceived importance of
attractiveness, sincerity, intelligence, fun, ambition, and shared interests when selecting a partner.
the six attributes many people use to select a partner. Allocating points based on their importance
to the respondent in mate selection, the surveyed determined their perceived importance of
attractiveness, sincerity, intelligence, fun, ambition, and shared interests when selecting a partner.
From this data, we can assert the following:
Men and women perceive attractiveness, fun, and intelligence as the opposite sex’s most sought qualities
in a partner. When comparing the average amount of points allocated to each of these characteristics by
respondents, the most points, on average, were distributed between attractiveness, fun, and intelligence.
This means men and women in this study perceive attractiveness, fun, and intelligence as the most
important traits by which a partner is selected.
in a partner. When comparing the average amount of points allocated to each of these characteristics by
respondents, the most points, on average, were distributed between attractiveness, fun, and intelligence.
This means men and women in this study perceive attractiveness, fun, and intelligence as the most
important traits by which a partner is selected.
This data also supports that men overestimate the importance of attractiveness to the opposite sex,
while underestimating the importance of sincerity. This is deduced from the data averaging the points
allocated by men to attractiveness and sincerity. When asked to assess the importance of each quality
in potential partner’s search for a pair, men cited attractiveness to be a higher factor in women’s selection
of a partner than what was reported by the women in this study. Further, men allocated an insufficient
amount of points to the quality of sincerity in this study, meaning they perceive sincerity to be a less
important factor in women’s selection of male partners than actuality.
while underestimating the importance of sincerity. This is deduced from the data averaging the points
allocated by men to attractiveness and sincerity. When asked to assess the importance of each quality
in potential partner’s search for a pair, men cited attractiveness to be a higher factor in women’s selection
of a partner than what was reported by the women in this study. Further, men allocated an insufficient
amount of points to the quality of sincerity in this study, meaning they perceive sincerity to be a less
important factor in women’s selection of male partners than actuality.
From this dataset, women underestimate the importance of attractiveness, sincerity, and intelligence
as important qualities men consider when selecting a partner. This means that women did not allocate
an amount of points equal to the male respondents in the case of attractiveness, sincerity, and intelligence.
The women in this study, on average, thought attractiveness, sincerity, and intelligence mattered less to
potential male partner’s in their selection of a significant other that is female.
as important qualities men consider when selecting a partner. This means that women did not allocate
an amount of points equal to the male respondents in the case of attractiveness, sincerity, and intelligence.
The women in this study, on average, thought attractiveness, sincerity, and intelligence mattered less to
potential male partner’s in their selection of a significant other that is female.
This data also affirms a deficit among some respondents between their personal estimated representation
of their own attractiveness, sincerity, fun, intelligence, and ambition and the importance
of these attributes to potential partners. For example, 3% of male and 6% of female respondents
reported their own attractiveness to be insufficient when compared to the ideals of a potential partner.
In other words, these men and women thought their own attractiveness to be less than what is
sought by potential partners. Attractiveness was the quality with the most amount of deficit,
with the other attributes showing abismal numbers of negative responses and was obtained by
subtracting the perceived scoring of said attributes that respondents expected the opposite sex
to report from a modified personal scoring of each attribute.
of their own attractiveness, sincerity, fun, intelligence, and ambition and the importance
of these attributes to potential partners. For example, 3% of male and 6% of female respondents
reported their own attractiveness to be insufficient when compared to the ideals of a potential partner.
In other words, these men and women thought their own attractiveness to be less than what is
sought by potential partners. Attractiveness was the quality with the most amount of deficit,
with the other attributes showing abismal numbers of negative responses and was obtained by
subtracting the perceived scoring of said attributes that respondents expected the opposite sex
to report from a modified personal scoring of each attribute.
As you look deeper into the dating service, OkCupid,
(https://theblog.okcupid.com/https-theblog-okcupid-com-casual-sex-and-politics-in-2017-eadbeaee0c4ddata)
you learn that it’s a common thought that everyone is just out for sex. In a study from 2005,
the majority of people were mainly looking for sex and didn’t really want a steady relationship and
that 65% of people on the website would hook up on the first date. Asking the same questions in 2015,
the study showed that people were looking for a relationship verse just sex and that 50% of people
would hook up on the first date. This makes you think that modern dating is changing due to the apps
and they are becoming more common than what they once were conceived.
(https://theblog.okcupid.com/https-theblog-okcupid-com-casual-sex-and-politics-in-2017-eadbeaee0c4ddata)
you learn that it’s a common thought that everyone is just out for sex. In a study from 2005,
the majority of people were mainly looking for sex and didn’t really want a steady relationship and
that 65% of people on the website would hook up on the first date. Asking the same questions in 2015,
the study showed that people were looking for a relationship verse just sex and that 50% of people
would hook up on the first date. This makes you think that modern dating is changing due to the apps
and they are becoming more common than what they once were conceived.
All this information makes you stop and think. Is online dating really changing how we are viewing one
another and truly how we are viewing ourselves? In the speed dating survey, it showed that both men and
women gauge themselves lower than their ideal expectations of the opposite gender both feeling like
they are not attractive enough for their ideal partners.
another and truly how we are viewing ourselves? In the speed dating survey, it showed that both men and
women gauge themselves lower than their ideal expectations of the opposite gender both feeling like
they are not attractive enough for their ideal partners.
The newspaper brought us personal ads where people would advertise what they were looking for in
a companionship with another human. From that advancement started speed dating where a group of
people would get together and ask each other questions in a small span of time to see if they could find
someone they could leave with. As the new age of computers hit the stage introducing AOL and instant
messenger as all that started happening, Warner Brother released “you got mail.” Skyrocketing the
idea of how to take the dating scene from bars and speed dating to the comfort of your own home.
You can test the water with conversations before even confronting the person you may or may not
have a crush on.
a companionship with another human. From that advancement started speed dating where a group of
people would get together and ask each other questions in a small span of time to see if they could find
someone they could leave with. As the new age of computers hit the stage introducing AOL and instant
messenger as all that started happening, Warner Brother released “you got mail.” Skyrocketing the
idea of how to take the dating scene from bars and speed dating to the comfort of your own home.
You can test the water with conversations before even confronting the person you may or may not
have a crush on.
An article written by Bustle.com explains how more people are looking for something real and that
over 13% have said they are engaged or got married from a dating app.
https://www.bustle.com/p/how-many-people-who-meet-on-dating-apps-get-married-swiping-isnt-just-for-hookups-44359
In this same article it also shows that the Southern regions of the United States still deeply values
courtships even with using a dating app. In the southern people who filled out the survey showed that
16.3% of couples where now in engaged after courting.
over 13% have said they are engaged or got married from a dating app.
https://www.bustle.com/p/how-many-people-who-meet-on-dating-apps-get-married-swiping-isnt-just-for-hookups-44359
In this same article it also shows that the Southern regions of the United States still deeply values
courtships even with using a dating app. In the southern people who filled out the survey showed that
16.3% of couples where now in engaged after courting.
All though that article has more positive spin because of the increase of
people on internet people are now addicted to what is on the screen in an article written by
Time on the OkCupid data. (http://time.com/3302251/9-ugly-truths-big-data-ok-cupid-book/) in the
article, it explains how men often see women with an expiration date and are looking for just a hookup.
Most straight women are less willing to say anything about their sexual desire then another demographic.
Showing that 6.1% of straight men on the site are only looking for casual sex. Gay men and
women show a 6.9% (each showing in their own category of the demographic) and straight women
it’s a staggering 0.8%. Makes you wonder if the online world has shifted the ideal thoughts of
relationships through different demographics.
people on internet people are now addicted to what is on the screen in an article written by
Time on the OkCupid data. (http://time.com/3302251/9-ugly-truths-big-data-ok-cupid-book/) in the
article, it explains how men often see women with an expiration date and are looking for just a hookup.
Most straight women are less willing to say anything about their sexual desire then another demographic.
Showing that 6.1% of straight men on the site are only looking for casual sex. Gay men and
women show a 6.9% (each showing in their own category of the demographic) and straight women
it’s a staggering 0.8%. Makes you wonder if the online world has shifted the ideal thoughts of
relationships through different demographics.
Overall, you can see that this data leads us down some eye-opening percent of both pros
and cons to what the dating world has evolved in too. Depending on the site and the study it shows
that people are still old school in a fashion about how they view dating and how online dating hasn’t
changed that drastically. It also leads us to believe that even though hooks up have been more
publicized because of the internet that it really has never changed from what it used to be with
personal ads in the newspaper. Which has answered out questioned about whether or not things
have changed in modern courtships.
and cons to what the dating world has evolved in too. Depending on the site and the study it shows
that people are still old school in a fashion about how they view dating and how online dating hasn’t
changed that drastically. It also leads us to believe that even though hooks up have been more
publicized because of the internet that it really has never changed from what it used to be with
personal ads in the newspaper. Which has answered out questioned about whether or not things
have changed in modern courtships.
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