An Exploratory Study of 60 Respondents Collected Using Mixed Methods, Including Social Media, and Asking “What
Makes a Relationship Work or Not?”
By
Chastity Sandoval
Northern New Mexico College
Department of BAIS: CJ
Abstract
Conclusions
Data Collection and Methods Data Analysis and Findings, Cont
Number of people that took the survey n=60,
but three people skipped to answer the
gender question 76.67% (N=) were females
and 23.33% or N= were males. Table 1 above
displays the relationship status for the 60
respondents. Results were bimodal, with 18
who reported they were married, and a similar
number (N=18, or 30%) were living together.
The smallest percent said they were divorced
or separated.
What makes a relationship work or not?
Several people had volunteered to take a tenminute survey. Several of these volunteers
that took the survey were asked several
questions that were relationship oriented and
three interviews done about divorce.
Participants included a total of 60 people, 14
males and 46.
Data Analysis and Findings
My conclusion, the results are: 1. That more
females than males took the survey and
communication is important to making the
relationship work, 2. That more males than
females will agree that sex is the most
important factor to making the relationship
work, which was not the indication. It was
mutual in both parties that majority answered
the sex was good.
Table 2b: The majority of people ages’ that took
this survey were as follows:
18 to 24: 33.90%
25 to 34: 28.81%
35 to 44: 16.95%
45 to 54: 10.17%
55 to 64: 8.47%
65 to 74: 1.69%
75 or older: 0
Statement of the Problem
Table 1, gives us a perspective of 60 participants on
their relationship status. Three of these people
skipped this question, so as you can see that the chart
is showing us the percentage rates. Widowed having
0%, Separated/Divorced: 6.67%, Dating but not living
together:11.67%, Single: 21.67%, Married: 30%, and
living together: 30%.
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The purpose of my study is exploratory. My
research interest was to examine the factor of
communication as a contributor to making a
relationship work. My recent marriage
separation made me curious to know what
people need in a relationship to be happy. It is
important to conduct this type of survey,
because we live in a busy society and
sometimes we neglect our relationship. Maybe
my survey will help people to remember what
are the important things to make a relationship
work or maybe my survey will help them realize
that their relationship is not for them.
Ethics
Certificate in NIH with Human Subject
Protection. All surveys given did not request
any personal information to identify an
individual. All information is confidential or
anonymous. There will be no identifying
information that will be released and prior to
taking the survey, there was a verbal mention
about the survey being confidential.
This table shows how important each of
these are to an individual, that they seek
in a relationship. As you can see, having a
supportive partner was much higher than
other answers. The least worries about
what was needed in a relationship was,
getting along with each other’s family.
Theory
My theory was that communication is the
main key to making a relationship work.
My hypotheses based on this theory
include: 1. That more females than males
will report that communication is important
to making the relationship work, 2. That
more males than females will agree that
sex is the most important factor to making
the relationship work, that having the
family like the significant other… that more
females will be taking the survey. My null
hypothesis is that communication is not a
factor predicting relationship success.
Table 1b: This table shows us that 76.6% of the
survey takers were female and 23.3% are male.
Table 3c. Independent variables; Answers to
the question, “Read and answer the questions
below about your CURRENT or your LAST
SERIOUS relationship.” Which measure the
concept of the most serious issues to affect
martial dissolution
References
Maxfield, Michael. G., Babbie, Earl R. Basic
of Research Methods. Third Ed. Wadsworth.
John Jay College: NY. 2012.
Hypotheses
My hypotheses based on this theory include:
1. That more females than males will report
that communication is important to making
the relationship work, 2. That more males
than females will agree that sex is the most
important factor to making the relationship
work, that having the family like the
significant other… that more females will be
taking the survey. My null hypothesis is that
communication is not a factor predicting
relationship success. My sample size is
n=60.
Acknowledgements
About 30% of the survey takers answered
that their partner got along with their
family and 26.67% answered that their
family got along with their partner. These
percentages indicated high percent rates
within this section of the survey.
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I would like to thank
Dr. Stephanie Amadeo-Marquez with
helping me organize and for teaching me
so much about research.
Professor Matt Borst, for allowing me to
have his students take my survey.