Research questions for confidential survey on singles and couples by sociologist Jan Yager, Ph.D. jyager@aol.com
(You should be 18 years of age or older to complete and return this questionnaire.)
Part 1
Your age?
Your current marital status?
Have you previously been married? If yes, please explain.
Your gender/sex (male or female)?
Your occupation?
Your current place of residence (town/city and country)?
Where did you grow up? (if different, town/city and country)?
Do you have children?
If yes, what are their ages and gender/sex?
Part 2 (for singles)
What way(s) do you typically find new dates? Introductions, parties, at work, at school, etc.?
Have you or anyone you know used a dating service? If yes, what was that like?
Have you or anyone you know tried online dating? If yes, what were the results? Be as specific as possible.
Have you or anyone you know placed an ad in a newspaper or magazine to meet someone? If yes, what happened as a result of your ad?
Have you or anyone you know tried single events such as Speed or slow dating or trips for singles only? If yes, what was the experience like and did you meet anyone that you dated?
If you live outside the United States, what should I know about dating in your country that will help me to understand how it's similar or different to the way it is in the United States:
What are your relationship and/or family goals (e.g. to get married, to find a steady date, other)?
Have you ever been married?
If yes, when were you married?
Any books, seminars, or consultants you would recommend for singles (especially seminars or consultants based in your country?)
Anything you'd like to add about being single, dating, or finding the love of your life from your experiences or observations?
What do you find to be the benefits or drawbacks to currently being single?
If you have children, how does having children impact on being single and on your romantic relationship goals and dating efforts?
Do you belong to any associations, organizations, or clubs for singles, for meeting people, or for any interests that you have where meeting people often occurs? If yes, what are those associations, organizations, or clubs?
What role do your casual, close, or best friends play in your single life including any help or hindrance in your dating activities?
Any questions about being single and dating that I didn't ask in this survey that you think I should be asking?
How long have you and your romantic partner been together?
If you are married, how long have you been married? (or going steady or engaged?)
How did you meet your romantic partner/spouse? (at school, at work, through an introduction from friends or family, at a party, at a conference, dating service, etc.?)
How long after you met did you start dating?
How long after you started dating did you become an exclusive couple?
What is the occupation of your romantic partner/spouse?
When you met, were you in another relationship at the time? If yes, please explain.
Do you have any advice for new couples about how to maintain a happy relationship?
What are typical romantic destinations for those in your country to go on their honeymoon? (For example, Hawaii and the Caribbean are popular honeymoon destinations for American newlyweds.)
If you are married, if you went on a trip for your honeymoon, where did you go?
If you live outside the United States, what should I know about dating in the country where you currently live that will help me to understand how it's similar or different to the way it is in the United States?
Any books, seminars, or consultants you would recommend for improving a romantic relationship and/or marriage (especially seminars or consultants based in your current city/town/country)?
Any advice you'd like to share with those who are currently looking for a date or a mate?
What are the benefits and challenges to you of being in a coupled and/or married relationship?
Has having children enhanced or threatened your romantic relationship?
Have your in-laws been a help or a hindrance to your relationship?
What role do your casual, close, or best friends play in your couple relationship including any help or hindrance in your couple activities?
Any other questions you think I should be asking couples?
Are you encouraged to socialize with your co-workers during or after work? If yes, please explain.
Is it acceptable to try to become a friend with your boss (or with a subordinate) at your company or are employees expected to stay friendly only with those at their level at the job?
Are there differences at your company (in your profession/occupation) between how men and women relate to their co-workers at work?
Is there a widespread policy about dating at the office at your company? If there is, what is the policy?
Are there any differences in how you view your business cards versus other countries you've visited?
Are there any other questions that I should be asking about the work environment and work relationships and how work relationships can improve or ruin a job or business environment that you think readers would welcome learning about?
If possible, please indicate how you found (or found out about) this survey.
Please use this space to write about anything else related to your current or past relationships - dating, being a couple, friendships, siblings, nuclear or extended family - that you'd like to share including especially memorable places to visit, movies or books to read, etc.:
Please also provide your contact information in case I have follow-up questions, via e-mail or phone. This will also enable me to let you know about upcoming related publications and/or seminars I might be conducting in your area as well as any special offers or events that you might find of interest. (Your contact information is not shared with anyone else.)
e-mail address:
mailing address:
Home and/or office phone (country code + city code + number)
Home phone:
Office phone:
Your complete name (for background information only) (You may also leave this blank, if you wish)
