XBIZ NEWS REPORT — Apr 13 — eHarmony.com says it has a "scientifically proven system" to match its customers with appropriate partners but, according to a lawsuit, it has no such system. The suit, filed at U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Friday, seeks class-action status and alleges that because eHarmony has no matchmatching system, consumers are oftentimes hooked up with scam artists. eHarmony spokeswoman Pamela Holmgren said that the accusations by the pair are bogus but would not elaborate.
The full article was originally published at XBiz News Report, but is no longer available.
Mark Brooks: The science of matchmaking is an emerging science that stands to socially redefine the mating process. Its an extremely important realm of science that is in its infancy. Lets give this new branch of psychology/sociology/ anthropology the best chance possible. Academics need to work together and in tandem with dating sites to build this branch to deliver on its full potential. A happier society, through better matchmaking.
This type of predicament was predicted by me way back in 2004!
See: Houran, J., Lange, R., Rentfrow, P. J., & Bruckner, K. H. (2004). Do online matchmaking tests work? An assessment of preliminary evidence for a publicized ‘predictive model of marital success.’ North American Journal of Psychology, 6, 507-526.
It’s time to do this stuff right. The field has a set of professional testing standards, which seem to be ignored by most compatibility engine designers. Companies that want real science should work with real tests and measurements experts. Not just any ole psychologist, self-styled relationship expert or love coach/therapist can create effective applications.
Thanks,
James Houran, Ph.D.
http://www.OnlineDatingMagazine.com
This type of predicament was predicted by me way back in 2004!
See: Houran, J., Lange, R., Rentfrow, P. J., & Bruckner, K. H. (2004). Do online matchmaking tests work? An assessment of preliminary evidence for a publicized ‘predictive model of marital success.’ North American Journal of Psychology, 6, 507-526.
It’s time to do this stuff right. The field has a set of professional testing standards, which seem to be ignored by most compatibility engine designers. Companies that want real science should work with real tests and measurements experts. Not just any ole psychologist, self-styled relationship expert or love coach/therapist can create effective applications.
Thanks,
James Houran, Ph.D.
http://www.OnlineDatingMagazine.com
I entirely agree with you Mark that academics need to share their data so that we can all move forward toward a clearer understand “mate choice.” Dating services aren’t selling soap. They are attempting to help people find life’s single greatest prize–a long term social and often reproductive partner. So, foremost, we need transparency. Even soap sellers tell you the soap’s ingredients.
eHarmony does not disclose their matching process; no transparency there. Moreover, without transparency, I can’t say whether eHarmony’s process is scientific or not. But ANY scientist who wishes to be taken seriously, shares their methods and results. Can you imagine someone saying that they have discovered the cure for cancer, and then refusing to share what that cure is? True scientists reveal what they are doing, why they are doing it and the things they are discovering. eHarmony is not behaving in a way that any scientist would regard as scientific.
I entirely agree with you Mark that academics need to share their data so that we can all move forward toward a clearer understand “mate choice.” Dating services aren’t selling soap. They are attempting to help people find life’s single greatest prize–a long term social and often reproductive partner. So, foremost, we need transparency. Even soap sellers tell you the soap’s ingredients.
eHarmony does not disclose their matching process; no transparency there. Moreover, without transparency, I can’t say whether eHarmony’s process is scientific or not. But ANY scientist who wishes to be taken seriously, shares their methods and results. Can you imagine someone saying that they have discovered the cure for cancer, and then refusing to share what that cure is? True scientists reveal what they are doing, why they are doing it and the things they are discovering. eHarmony is not behaving in a way that any scientist would regard as scientific.
Hi Helen and others,
Just to clarify… eHarmony DOES disclose its matching method in its patent documentation. That method is reviewed in my paper cited above.
Sadly, the company’s methods are inconsistent with professional testing standards. This is why eHarmony has drawn criticism from those academic community who deal with love and attachment research.
Thanks,
James Houran, Ph.D.
http://www.OnlineDatingMagazine.com
Hi Helen and others,
Just to clarify… eHarmony DOES disclose its matching method in its patent documentation. That method is reviewed in my paper cited above.
Sadly, the company’s methods are inconsistent with professional testing standards. This is why eHarmony has drawn criticism from those academic community who deal with love and attachment research.
Thanks,
James Houran, Ph.D.
http://www.OnlineDatingMagazine.com
eHarmony Compatibility Matching System Protected by U.S. Pat. No. 6,735,568
But, there are 2 patents.
The US Patent 6,735,568 B1 Filed Aug 10, 2000 Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
“Method and system for identifying people who are likely to have a successful relationship”
US Patent 7,454,357 Filed Feb 13, 2004 Date of Patent: Nov 18, 2008
“Method and system for identifying people who are likely to have a successful relationship”
The words “scientific” or “scientifically proven” do not appear in the patents.
They do not disclose *exactly* the matching method.
I remember Dr. Buckwalter said/wrote on Nov 14 2007
“…………
DrBuckwalter (Pasadena, CA ): Today, we measure all 29 dimensions in a statistically valid manner and we also have ample evidence that each dimension is critical in relationship success.
The exact algorithms we used to match users based on these dimensions are extremely complex and they really are our ‘secret sauce’ so we don’t talk about specific details.
………………..
”
Moreover eHarmony uses its guided communication process as an appendix of the main matching algorithm. The guided communication process is designed to narrow even more the field of persons you give a better chance of getting along with.
Anyway eHarmony can only reach “as low as” 3 or 4 persons high compatible per 1,000 persons, so in a 10,000,000 persons database, there are as many as 30,000 to 40,000 persons to contact/date, that means a whole precision less than anyone could achieve by searching on one’s own!
Online dating sites offering compatibility matching methods are only fueled by big marketing budgets /expenditures (over USD 90 million per year) and not by serious scientific evidence.
eHarmony Labs is only a smoke curtain.
Sites like eHarmony, Chemistry and others should prove they can match persons who will have more stable and satisfying relationships than couples matched by chance, astrological destiny, personal preferences, searching on one’s own, or other technique as the control group in a peer_reviewed Scientifc Paper.
Regards,
Fernando Ardenghi.
Buenos Aires.
Argentina.
ardenghifer@gmail.com
eHarmony Compatibility Matching System Protected by U.S. Pat. No. 6,735,568
But, there are 2 patents.
The US Patent 6,735,568 B1 Filed Aug 10, 2000 Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
“Method and system for identifying people who are likely to have a successful relationship”
US Patent 7,454,357 Filed Feb 13, 2004 Date of Patent: Nov 18, 2008
“Method and system for identifying people who are likely to have a successful relationship”
The words “scientific” or “scientifically proven” do not appear in the patents.
They do not disclose *exactly* the matching method.
I remember Dr. Buckwalter said/wrote on Nov 14 2007
“…………
DrBuckwalter (Pasadena, CA ): Today, we measure all 29 dimensions in a statistically valid manner and we also have ample evidence that each dimension is critical in relationship success.
The exact algorithms we used to match users based on these dimensions are extremely complex and they really are our ‘secret sauce’ so we don’t talk about specific details.
………………..
”
Moreover eHarmony uses its guided communication process as an appendix of the main matching algorithm. The guided communication process is designed to narrow even more the field of persons you give a better chance of getting along with.
Anyway eHarmony can only reach “as low as” 3 or 4 persons high compatible per 1,000 persons, so in a 10,000,000 persons database, there are as many as 30,000 to 40,000 persons to contact/date, that means a whole precision less than anyone could achieve by searching on one’s own!
Online dating sites offering compatibility matching methods are only fueled by big marketing budgets /expenditures (over USD 90 million per year) and not by serious scientific evidence.
eHarmony Labs is only a smoke curtain.
Sites like eHarmony, Chemistry and others should prove they can match persons who will have more stable and satisfying relationships than couples matched by chance, astrological destiny, personal preferences, searching on one’s own, or other technique as the control group in a peer_reviewed Scientifc Paper.
Regards,
Fernando Ardenghi.
Buenos Aires.
Argentina.
ardenghifer@gmail.com