We examined the reported influence of participation in research on individu
als in premarital relationships. Data were from a larger longitudinal study
of 60 dating couples. We designed a questionnaire to evaluate the effect o
f participation. Responses to open-ended questions revealed 3 major sources
of influence: attention to relationship evaluation, effects on relationshi
p activities, and indirect or no influence Closed-ended items yielded 2 dim
ensions: relationship-defining influence and relationship-evaluating influe
nce. Relationship-evaluating influence,ras greater the more respondents par
ticipated in the study. The higher were respondents' scores on relationship
-evaluating influence, the more their relationship satisfaction increased o
tter the year long study. We conclude that the effects of participating in
the research are primarily educational mid enriching in nature, rather than
therapeutic as suggested in previous research (Rubin & Mitchell, 1976).