NETIMPERATIVE — Mar 7 — US-based relationship service PerfectMatch recently launched in the UK, claiming to offer its users “soul mates, not bad dates.” After launching in the US 20 months ago, PerfectMatch has more than one million members, with a further 5,000 joining every day. It is now the second largest US “relationship” site behind eHarmony. Central to the site’s appeal is the Duet Compatabillity System, developed by relationship expert Dr Pepper Schwartz, a regular on US talk shows such as Oprah and Good Morning America. Interestingly, PerfectMatch attracts more women than men, with average age of members being between 33 and 34.
I thought that Match.com was the biggest US relationship site, or at least it used to be. How do they promise relationships, though? Do they refund your money if nobody commits?
-Steve
Games are for Children
http://www.shoemakervillage.org/games
Hi, Steve —
Services like eHarmony and PerfectMatch are using the “relationship” site designation as a way to try and differentiate themselves from the myriad of online dating services. It may be a marketing tactic, but it is nice in that it highlights the growing trend for companies to offer “long-term relationship” avenues for such minded customers. A million + members is great, but that hardly secures their position as the second largest “relationship” site or online dating site in general (for instance, TRUE.com also describes itself as a relationship site and it has nearly 3 million users).
What I like about this release is that it highlights the issue of compatibility testing. Following from recent exposes in the media related to certain companies’ tests, I predict that this aspect of the online matchmaking industry will come under increased scrutiny. This is especially true with respect to claims and guarantees made. It is my understanding that PerfectMatch guarantees customer satisfaction with a money back offer — not a guarantee of a relationship per se.
Obviously, no one can guarantee another person that they will find a relationship — much less a stable and satisfying one. Yet, scientifically valid compatibility testing can certainly load the dice, as Dr. Glenn Wilson might say (the father of modern compatibility testing).
Thanks,
James Houran, Ph.D.
Chief Psychologist, TRUE.com
My sister found her boy friend on eharmony and they have been together for almost a year and they are sctually happy. So right when I started to think eharmony was an cool, my sis friend did the 3 hour personality test and then eharmony replys at the end with them ecplaining that she is un-matchable. I guess its not for everyone.
I strongly urge the public to actually investigate the scientific validity of any compatibility test before you invest the time into completing and using it.
Some answers to look for:
1. Did testing experts (not merely any Ph.D.s) actually construct the test?
2. Is there actual scientific research to support its use for predicting long-term romantic compatibility?
3. Does the company freely give customers that evidence?
4. Has the test been independently verified to meet professional standards?
5. Is this test free of bias (related to age, gender, sexual orientation) that can screw up test results and any matches made from them?
Carefully review any “personality/compatibility matching” site for answers to these questions. It can be quite a sobering experience! Usually all one sees are selectively reported “testimonials” from the “good” matches. That is not evidence — that is marketing.
Thanks,
James Houran, Ph.D.
Chief Psychologist, TRUE.com
> my sis friend did the 3 hour personality test
> and then eharmony replys at the end with them
> ecplaining that she is un-matchable. I guess
> its not for everyone…
e|harmony has a bias towards people with religious leanings. Maybe she entered that she doesn’t go to church, or maybe she ticked the “atheist” checkbox.