From motive dispositions to states to outcomes: Research data of an intensive experience sampling study on communal motivational dynamics in couples

Research Questions/Hypotheses:

In an intimate relationship individuals have to negotiate different goals, such as when and how much time to spend together (a communion goal), or whose opinion to follow when making shared decisions (an agentic goal). We are interested in explaining

• how situational circumstances in everyday life interact with motive dispositions to generate motivational states, such as a need to see the partner,
• how couples regulate their individual motivations, and
• what consequences specific dyadic behavioural patterns have for everyday and overall relationship outcomes, such as relationship satisfaction.

Specifically, we suggest that the occurrence and regulation of everyday motivational states in a couple relationship mediate the links between individual motives as dispositions and relationship outcomes.

Research Design:

Combined Standardized Survey Instruments (Combination of various standardized sections); repeated measurements

Measurement Instruments/Apparatus:

The following standardized instruments were used:
1: Partner-Related Agency and Communion Test (PACT).
2: The ABC of Social Desires. 3: Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI).
4: Positive – Negative Relationship Quality (PN-RQ) Scale (own translation to German). 5: Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS).
6: Revised Blood & Wolfe (1960) scale for decision-making intimate relationships (own translation to German).
7: The Unified Motive Scales.
8: 10-item short version of the Big Five Inventory (BFI-10).
9: Self-reflection and insight scale (own translation to German).
10: Adapted Affect Grid (own translation to German).

Data Collection Method:

Collection without the presence of the investigator

• online
• other: Experience-Sampling with Smartphone (ESM)

Population:

German-speaking, mainly student sample, heterosexual couples

Survey Time Period:

Experience Sampling Method (ESM) over a period of 2 weeks is used asking participants to answer questions about their mood, relationship satisfaction, motivational states, the current situation’s as well as the past situation’s features, and to give an appraisal of their own as well as their partner’s behavior 5 times a day at semi-random time points within a time frame of 9,5 hours per day. This time frame was adapted to the participants’ preferred times, with starting times ranging from 8:00 to 10:30 and ending times ranging from 21:30 to 24:00. Participants registered for participation and filled in an online preliminary questionnaire before starting the ESM part of the study. For the ESM part of the study, the participants used their own smartphones. After the two weeks of experience sampling had finished, the participants filled in additional online feedback questionnaires.

Sample:

Convenience sample;
Participants using non-compatible smartphones as well as homosexual individuals were not eligible for participation.

Gender Distribution:

50% female subjects (n=76)
50% male subjects (n=76)

Age Distribution: 18-40 years

Spatial Coverage (Country/Region/City): Germany

Subject Recruitment:

Recruition: Announcements, newsletter, facebook, personal contacts
Motivation: Reminder after one week, course credits and raffle of Amazon vouchers depending on response rate

Sample Size:

77 couples

Return/Drop Out:

Mean compliance of ESM was 84%.