Peak-End Theory and Perceptions of Marital Conflict

Abstract: This project is an independent research study aiming to determine if positive psychology’s “peak-end theory” can be applied to interpersonal relationships such as marriage. The peak-end theory states that human memory and perception do not result from a culmination every moment of an experience averaged over time. People evaluate an experience based on how they felt at the peak and end of an experience. Conflict is present in almost every marital relationship and can have negative effects on all types of health. This study gives support to the idea that if couples manipulate the peak and end of their marital conflicts, they can improve their perceptions of the conflict, thus increasing marital satisfaction and relational health. The research produced some significant results, thus the possibility of using the peak-end theory to improve marital relationships, as a clinical intervention, may be a reality. +

Larger Purpose: I have chosen to do original research as my EDGE project because I feel that it will help me to develop my skills in critical thinking, problem solving, and increase my leadership ability. The research process is hard work. I want to prove to myself that I can do hard things through dedicating time and effort into research that could benefit others, while also building my educational resume and my self-efficacy.

Project Goal: For my EDGE project, I completed an original research study to determine the relationship between Peak-End Theory and marital conflict.

Outcomes: 1. Completing this research has helped me learn the process of running a research project, which will give me valuable skills for graduate school and prepare me for my Master’s thesis project. 2. Completing this research has helped me better understand the fields of positive psychology and the study of marriage. 3. Completing this research has helped me have a better idea if becoming a researcher for a career is something that I want to do.

Deliverables: I have provided my 25 page research paper describing the background information that led to my hypothesis, my research questions, my methods in performing my research, and my statistical analysis. This blog acts as a portfolio for my project.

Differentiation: Completing this research study will help me stand out from my peers in a few distinct ways. First, by completing this study as an independent project, I will show future employers and graduate school faculty that I am motivated and goal-oriented. Many of my peers try to work on other student/faculty research projects to gain research experience. I am creating my own research project and learning the process more intimately from start to finish. I will also stand out from those in my field because I am doing research that pertains to my direct interests and career goals. Anyone can do research, but it is impressive when you do research in a specific field and can integrate two ideas. By studying more about positive psychology and marital therapy, I will have a higher level of mastery in those subjects than my peers, which will give me an advantage or “edge” in the educational field and in a future career.

Estimate Costs: There are going to be substantial costs associated with this project. For instance, I have to purchase all of the materials. One of the surveys that I hope to use is called the Marital Satisfaction Inventory-Revised. The scoring handbook alone is around $50 and the actual surveys are around $20. I also will need to print out quite a bit of material for the additional surveys and things that I will need. This will cost me around $20. Because my study is so time consuming for participants, I will need to “compensate/incentivize” them to participate. I have decided that I will be giving out $100 date-night prizes to four of my participants. This will cost around $400. In total, I estimate my project will cost around $500 to complete. I will be getting this funding through a UGRASP grant.

Estimated Timeline: My project will begin on November 15 th , 2016. On this date I will have submitted my IRB (Institutional Review Board) application in order to be passed to ethically experiment on human subjects. Once I have received IRB approval, I will begin advertising my research participation on campus and in the community. After I recruit my participants, I will need to meet with each participant dyad (married couple) to give them the instructions for the study and have them fill out all of the surveys that I will be using to analyze the data. I anticipate this meeting with the couples will take around 45 minutes per dyad.  After the 3-week period of participating in the study, I will again meet with the couples to collect their materials, give them the follow-up surveys, and debrief them. This will take approximately 35-50 minutes per couple. I anticipate that I will have at least 40 couples participating in the study. I will have this work completed by February 17 th ...