The reported influence of research participation on premarital relationships

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).