Online Personals Watch Interview with Dr. James Houran, Chief Psychologist of True.com
Online Personals Watch offers insight into the online personals world through a series of online dating C level interviews.
San Francisco, CA (PR WEB) July 13, 2005 -- Eric Straus of Cupid.com thinks
matching based on personality profiling is B.S. Online dating upstart, True.com,
would beg to differ. Mark Brooks, editor of Online Personals Watch, tracked down
True.com’s Chief Psychologist, Dr James Houran, to gain some insight and a
differing (expert) opinion. The following is an excerpt. The full interview can
be found at www.onlinepersonalswatch.com.
How can you be sure
True.com’s tests are true and correct?
Luckily we don’t have to rely on
opinion. There are professional standards for testing, which are outlined in a
manual authored by the American Educational Research Association, the American
Psychological Association, along with the National Council on Measurement and
Education. One key element in test creation is in providing the test rationale.
It’s also important to create and validate tests in the context they are to be
used. True.com uses Item Response Theory based measures. This is the same
approach used by the GRE, MCAT and LSAT. We’ve known since 1960 that it’s
superior to Classical Test Theory methods. All good tests have a test manual to
show their basis, construction and validation… and preferably the research
should be published in a peer-reviewed journal or at least independently audited
by an expert in modern psychometrics. To my knowledge True.com is the only
company that has done this. And, that angers me, because I hear people on TV
saying, “Trust me, I have a test based in science, trust me.” Ask to see that
science and you don’t get a response back.
Eric Straus, the CEO of
Cupid, says personality profiling for online dating context is B.S. What do you
think?
I would agree to some extent. The public should be skeptical! Public
exposure to professional testing is limited. The public is more familiar with
fun little quizzes in Cosmo or on entertainment websites. These tests are fun
diversions but they are not the real thing. But, can we identify the variables
that are associated with long-term compatibility? Yes, we can. Can we measure
these variables in a reliable and valid way? Yes, we can. Can we use and apply
these variables? Yes, we can. Published research has already shown this.
However, what we’ve learned from advanced statistics is that things we thought
we knew often turn out to be skewed or wrong. For example, eHarmony’s test says
‘birds of a feather flock together.’ The more similar a couple is the happier
they will be in the relationship. That’s incorrect. “Similarity” is a
relationship principle that academics have long known from research to be
oversimplified.
How can a company give out enough information on these
tests to win confidence, without giving away their secrets?
Independent
auditors who are established experts in modern test construction and validation
can review the tests and certify that they meet professional testing standards.
Data can be reported to the public without divulging the specifics of matching
algorithms.
So what can you tell me about True.com’s matching
algorithm?
True matches people based on research concerning similar as well
as complementary relationship variables. We take into account factors well
beyond mere personality. Some of those variables include lifestyle preferences,
world-views, sense of humor, social life, money management, and readiness to
commit. Companies are free to use their preferred methods to pair individuals.
Perfect Match uses a test derived from the popular Myers Briggs Type Indicator.
We use what’s known as the ‘big five model.’
The full interview appears
at www.onlinepersonalswatch.com.
Members of the press are
invited to attend the upcoming mobile internet dating convention in San
Francisco on Thursday 21st July and Friday 22nd July. Please call Mark Brooks
directly at 408-828-6886 or email e-mail protected from spam bots by Tuesday
19th July to apply for your press pass.
ABOUT TRUE.COM
True.com is a
safety focused online relationship service whose mission is to help singles find
long lasting and fulfilling relationships. It is the only online relationship
service that conducts criminal background screening and single verification
screening. True.com also guides its members step-by-step through all stages of
the relationship-building process with the help of proprietary research and it’s
team of relationship experts and psychologists.
ABOUT ONLINE PERSONALS
WATCH
Online Personals Watch is the major news and information portal for the
online personals industry. The service is run by Mark Brooks who previously
worked with Friendster, FriendFinder and Cupid.com. Online Personals Watch is
allied with the internet dating convention (idate2005.com). Mark handles media
relations for the internet dating conventions.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/7/prweb260823.htm