"eHarmony as an Information Retrieval System: Searching, Matching, and Matchmaking" (page 150)
Introduction
Since 2000, the internet dating site eHarmony has specialized in matching heterosexual singles for long-term relationships leading to marriage (Prodhan, 2008); integrating a sophisticated, psychological profiling system within an online dating framework to make finding love less arbitrary. eHarmony promotes a principle of self discovery and of potential partners, and it is through a hybrid of current technology and old-fashioned matchmaking that their foundation of introspection and data processing is formed (Orr, 2004, pg. 55): "By combining the best scientific research with detailed profiling of every member, we screen thousands of single men and single women to bring you only the ones that have the potential to be truly right for you" (eHarmony Website, 2012, Scientific Matchmaking, para. 1). PAGE 150
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For purposes of testing the criteria of measurement, as well as potentially varied outcomes of the search results, 2 user-models were devised: "Leia", or user-model 1, is your typical "loser" type, intelligent and artistically inclined, yet socially awkward and severely emotionally maladjusted, as opposed to user-model 2 who embodies user-model 1's paradox. "Lena" views herself as highly social, gregarious, emotionally stable, optimistic, extremely attractive and healthy—she is "perfect" in the way, albeit in a bland, superficial sort of way, that she doesn't exist; and doesn't, as she was strictly contrived for testing purposes. PAGE 151
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As evidenced by user-model 2 who was purposely constructed to reflect a highly superficial, 5'7 beauty with shallow interests in cultural, artistic, and intellectual pursuits, "Lena's" profile was considered desirable by the interface and her potential matches; and judging by her potential matches, one would say the results are fairly accurate.
Despite eHarmony's efforts to appraise the human personality within a scientific sensibility, since the human element is not taken into consideration until communication ensues, which occurs after matches are reviewed, this appraisal still remains on a superficial level. The 29 dimensions of compatibility do not comprise the real-life chemistry that must occur in order for a match to be successful; the test itself does not test these facets but must be done so in a real-life, interpersonal setting. A personality test cannot also realistically take into account all facets of personality, as its entirety is multi-dimensional; this encompasses quirks, minor subtleties and the overall complexities of character, including the scope of any unperceived, individual flaws that may be undetected by a static questionnaire. PAGE 155
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Please remember eHarmony has 2 bogus patents about its Compatibility Matching Algorithm.
eHarmony, a 12+ years old obsolete site, uses a Compatibility Matching Algorithm based on personality similarity with the Big5 normative personality test and Dyadic Adjustment Scale (invented by Dr. Graham B. Spanier in 1976) as its core. The Guided Communication Process (a mutual filtering step) is an appendix of its main matching algorithm.
eHarmony is not "scientifically proven" because eHarmony Labs could not prove eHarmony's matching algorithm can match prospective partners who will have more stable and satisfying relationships -and very low divorce rates- than couples matched by chance, astrological destiny, personal preferences, searching on one's own, or other technique as the control group in a peer reviewed Scientific Paper.
eHarmony's Compatibility Matching Algorithm consists of 2 stages.
* A mutual filtering stage common to any online dating site like PlentyOfFish, Match, Chemistry, True, PerfectMatch, Parship, MeeticAffinity, OkCupid, Be2, FriendScout24, etc.
* The core stage.
The core stage of eHarmony's Compatibility Matching Algorithm:
1) The normative Big5 test to assess personality (The Big 5 is good for guidance/orientative purposes but not good enough for predictive purposes)
2) Dyadic Adjustment Scale (invented in 1976) to calculate compatibility (similarity) between prospective mates.
3) The Guided Communication Process (a mutual filtering step) designed to narrow even more the field of persons you give a better chance of getting along with, and also it is useful for feedback purposes.
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