Comments on: TED2008: Helen Fisher and the Origins of Love http://onlinedatingpost.com/archives/2008/03/ted2008-helen-fisher-and-the-origins-of-love/ Online Dating Industry Consulting & Commentary Thu, 24 May 2012 21:18:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Helen Fisher http://onlinedatingpost.com/archives/2008/03/ted2008-helen-fisher-and-the-origins-of-love/comment-page-1/#comment-235486 Helen Fisher Sat, 31 Jan 2009 05:25:19 +0000 http://onlinedatingpost.com/archives/2008/03/ted2008-helen-fisher-and-the-origins-of-love/#comment-235486 interesting interesting

]]> By: David Evans http://onlinedatingpost.com/archives/2008/03/ted2008-helen-fisher-and-the-origins-of-love/comment-page-1/#comment-153194 David Evans Tue, 04 Mar 2008 21:43:38 +0000 http://onlinedatingpost.com/archives/2008/03/ted2008-helen-fisher-and-the-origins-of-love/#comment-153194 Perhaps you could begin by telling us who you are, which could perhaps lend some credibility to your attack. I find the contention between experts regarding various tests fascinating, but sign your name, please. I'd like to hear about how various personality tests perform when the database in millions of people. I've been told many tests are better for small groups, is there any truth to this? Let's agree with my layman's observation that no matching test at any online dating site works as well as they could, and take it from there. I wish someone would publish an article specifically about online dating that explains the testing systems used at popular dating sites, their pros and cons. Links to relevant content are always good. Perhaps you could begin by telling us who you are, which could perhaps lend some credibility to your attack.

I find the contention between experts regarding various tests fascinating, but sign your name, please.

I’d like to hear about how various personality tests perform when the database in millions of people. I’ve been told many tests are better for small groups, is there any truth to this?

Let’s agree with my layman’s observation that no matching test at any online dating site works as well as they could, and take it from there.

I wish someone would publish an article specifically about online dating that explains the testing systems used at popular dating sites, their pros and cons. Links to relevant content are always good.

]]> By: Psychometrician http://onlinedatingpost.com/archives/2008/03/ted2008-helen-fisher-and-the-origins-of-love/comment-page-1/#comment-153173 Psychometrician Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:42:32 +0000 http://onlinedatingpost.com/archives/2008/03/ted2008-helen-fisher-and-the-origins-of-love/#comment-153173 James Houran is sadly out of his depth when attacking the use of statistics and Classical Test Theory in psychometric assessments. The GRE, MCAT and LSAT are tests of ability which can be hierarchically structured, and analyzed. This makes them appropriate for IRT or Rasch analysis. The same has not been demonstrated for many factors, not to mention tests of, personality factors such as the Neuroticism, Agreeableness, Openness, Conscientiousness and Extroversion (i.e, the 'Big 5'). More importantly, no body of research has indicated that personality scales developed via Item Response Theory have been developed which are BETTER than those developed via Classical Test Theory. Dr. Houran, apparently eager to sell his services now that he has been fired by True.com, appears eager to create a need for his special expertise in IRT. He should perhaps begin by actually publishing research that demonstrates the value that he is so eager to presume. James Houran is sadly out of his depth when attacking the use of statistics and Classical Test Theory in psychometric assessments. The GRE, MCAT and LSAT are tests of ability which can be hierarchically structured, and analyzed. This makes them appropriate for IRT or Rasch analysis. The same has not been demonstrated for many factors, not to mention tests of, personality factors such as the Neuroticism, Agreeableness, Openness, Conscientiousness and Extroversion (i.e, the ‘Big 5′).

More importantly, no body of research has indicated that personality scales developed via Item Response Theory have been developed which are BETTER than those developed via Classical Test Theory. Dr. Houran, apparently eager to sell his services now that he has been fired by True.com, appears eager to create a need for his special expertise in IRT. He should perhaps begin by actually publishing research that demonstrates the value that he is so eager to presume.

]]> By: James Houran http://onlinedatingpost.com/archives/2008/03/ted2008-helen-fisher-and-the-origins-of-love/comment-page-1/#comment-152991 James Houran Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:59:53 +0000 http://onlinedatingpost.com/archives/2008/03/ted2008-helen-fisher-and-the-origins-of-love/#comment-152991 Actually, it is not a compliment to say that eharmony uses methods that have been used in psychology for decades. They use Classical Test Theory, which has been outdated since 1960. No serious assessment -- such as the GRE, MCAT or LSAT -- would ever use such statistics. Most compatibility tests, unfortunately, do not meet professional testing standards when it comes to their reliability or validity. Thanks, James Houran, Ph.D. Online Dating Magazine Actually, it is not a compliment to say that eharmony uses methods that have been used in psychology for decades. They use Classical Test Theory, which has been outdated since 1960. No serious assessment — such as the GRE, MCAT or LSAT — would ever use such statistics.

Most compatibility tests, unfortunately, do not meet professional testing standards when it comes to their reliability or validity.

Thanks,

James Houran, Ph.D.
Online Dating Magazine

]]> By: Neuroboy http://onlinedatingpost.com/archives/2008/03/ted2008-helen-fisher-and-the-origins-of-love/comment-page-1/#comment-152772 Neuroboy Sun, 02 Mar 2008 07:01:12 +0000 http://onlinedatingpost.com/archives/2008/03/ted2008-helen-fisher-and-the-origins-of-love/#comment-152772 Calling Helen Fisher a scientist is like calling a evolution random. This woman claims to match people based on dopamine, estrogen, testosterone and serotonin. Sure these are neuroactive but they are in no way independent or even definitive in their actions. Yet she claims to be able to classify your status on these by self-report questions. Wow--love to see the validity of those questions. Admittedly eHarmony has their own wingnut Orville Redenbaker, but at least he is an old school psychologist. What he claims to do is based on the statistics every test every psychologist uses to decide if someone is depressed or anxious or a freaking wife beater. So take your pick--a wacko who claims to be validating her instrument on the fly (while her customers pay her) or a FLOG (funny looking old guy) who uses a method that has been used in psychology for decades? Calling Helen Fisher a scientist is like calling a evolution random. This woman claims to match people based on dopamine, estrogen, testosterone and serotonin. Sure these are neuroactive but they are in no way independent or even definitive in their actions. Yet she claims to be able to classify your status on these by self-report questions. Wow–love to see the validity of those questions.

Admittedly eHarmony has their own wingnut Orville Redenbaker, but at least he is an old school psychologist. What he claims to do is based on the statistics every test every psychologist uses to decide if someone is depressed or anxious or a freaking wife beater.

So take your pick–a wacko who claims to be validating her instrument on the fly (while her customers pay her) or a FLOG (funny looking old guy) who uses a method that has been used in psychology for decades?

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