saying opposites attract
There's no science when it comes to chemistry: Matchmaking methods sold by dating websites are deemed 'basically adorable'
While it may be comforting to be told by dating websites that there is a scientific method to finding the perfect romantic match,
an actual scientist has found that the concept is 'basically adorable.'
Benjamin Karney, a psychology professor from the University of California is one of five scientists who conducted a recent study on the effectiveness of online dating.
He explained that match-making methods sold by websites are not supported by sufficient evidence.
Professor Karney said: 'If you're gonna make scientific claims, act like a scientist. Or don't make scientific claims.'
Thomas Bradbury, a clinical psychology professor who is also a colleague of Professor Karney, added that the concept is 'crazy.'
The study, which was conducted by five American scientists in total, stated that dating websites that promote the use of a 'mathematical algorithm' to correctly
select a partner have not shown 'no compelling evidence' to support the claim.
While the study has praised the 'remarkably convenient' nature of online dating, it also said that websites like eHarmony.com,
which was the first American site to promote scientific matching, are 'in a poor position to know how two partners will grow and mature over time.'
EHarmony.com asks its users to complete a survey that is made of 13 sections and approximately 300 items, according to the study.
'If you're gonna make scientific claims, act like a scientist. Or don't make scientific claims.'
The dating site has sold itself in the past by saying: 'By combining the best scientific research with detailed profiling of every member,
we screen thousands of single men and single women to bring you only the ones that have the potential to be truly right for you.'
The study read: 'It is unlikely that any matching algorithm that seeks to match two people based on information available before they are
aware of each other can account for more than a very small proportion of the variance in long-term romantic outcomes such as relationship satisfaction and stability.'
Professor Karney said he'd prefer dating websites to check the accuracy of their claims before promoting them in advertisements.
He added that due to the popularity of online dating that websites are able to claim unsupported claims.
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