The Effectiveness and Popularity of

By: Kelsee Gates, Katelynn Hoyt, Sarah Wakefield, Josiah Stewart, Tamsyn Turner

Abstract

Backround

Online Dating

This study was conducted to measure the

popularity and effectiveness of the dating app Tinder

amongst students currently attending Brigham

created the ability to share information across many

Young University-Idaho.

different boundaries. One of those boundaries

includes the way one person connects with another.

A survey created on Qualtrics was e-mailed

The Internet or World Wide Web has

to 400 BYU-Idaho students, and according to

The internet has provided the means to connect with

the results of the 141 responses, the majority

a person wherever they may be, whether it is five

of BYU-Idaho students do not use Tinder. The

miles away or five thousand. A recent survey by

findings suggest that most students do not use

Internet demographers Nielsen Media/ Commerce

tinder because they have a negative perception

Net finds the number of Internet users over the

of it, prefer traditional dating, or are married. Of

age of 16 in the U.S. and Canada has reached 78.6

the students that do use Tinder, the perception

million, with global use encompassing nearly 120.5

of the app is also generally negative. Our results

million people.

reveal that most are not satisfied with the app and

would not recommend it to a friend. Although the

Internet are expected to continue to intensify and by

majority of participants do not feel satisfied with

the beginning of the next millennium, nearly 140

Tinder, many of these users spend time on the app

million people are predicted to make use of Internet

multiple times a day. The results of this survey are

technology. This has created a new way people

analyzed in this article to understand what students

can connect and find and maintain friendships, and

think about Tinder.

has now turned into a way people can even find

In addition, the growth and popularity of the

romantic relationships.

Online dating began when the internet

became commonplace in most households.

Researchers have pointed out that online

American Life Project did a study to predict the

relationships has become a primary activity on the

traits and qualities that describe an online dater

Internet. One of the first dating sites to become

and why they would use online dating. They chose

very popular was the dating site Match.com which

a random sample of those who participated in the

was created in 1996. There were many popular

study from ages 18-95. The data that was analyzed

sites to follow such as E-Harmony, Zoosk, and

were the frequency of using the Internet, the sex of

hundreds of others.

the user, and the amount of trust they have for the

In recent years, the use of online dating

internet. The results of the study found that people

or online personals services has evolved from a

who are generally more trusting of people are less

marginal to a mainstream social practice. In 2003, at

likely to participate in online dating. They also

least 29 million Americans (two out of five singles)

found that people who perform more tasks on the

used an online dating service; in 2004, on average,

Internet, whether for personal or recreational use,

there were 40 million unique visitors to online

are more likely participate and engage in internet

dating sites each month in the U.S.. Those who are

dating and use internet dating sites.3

participating in online dating typically are seeking

an intimate relationship and turn to these online

on the internet, however, has changed the way

dating sites to have easy access to those that are also

that many people interact both on and offline. For

seeking a romantic connection as well.

many online dating users there are apprehensions

about starting a relationship online and the risks

The Cyber-Relationship Motives (CRM)

This emergence of finding relationships

Scale assess factors that may motivate individuals

associated with it, such as health, emotional, and

to make friends on Internet. Within this scale, nine

safety risks.

factors involved in CRM were proposed. These nine

One of the factors of online dating has to do

factors are: anonymity, the opportunity to meet new

with creating a persona or creating the ability to

people, easier communication, curiosity, emotional

sound and look more positive for those prospective

support, social compensation, away from the real

partners, and in so doing, this process can involve

world, love, and sexual partners. Pew Internet and

deception. Most online dating sites use pictures and

biographies to share the information of each user.

online without meeting? on a rating scale from 1

This creates a climate in which the user has to trust

to 10 with 1 being not at all to 10 being very

the information that each user is using and sharing

much. The mean of all the participating students

is accurate and not misleading.

answers was 5.82.

A study conducted of college students in

Researchers have shown interest in

Los Angeles explored the differences between

the risks of online dating and how safe online

online dating and traditional dating. The majority of

daters feel using these sites. A recent study of

participating students said they would recommend

12 women and 17 men provided findings that

online dating to others. According to this study,

every participant had concerns about risk when

students are slightly more satisfied with traditional

using online dating sites. They all had fears about

dating as opposed to online dating. 71% of students

sexual, emotional, and physical risks. Some of

rate their experience in online dating either

them even shared experience of stalkers and

somewhat positive or very positive. 29% rate

other uncomfortable situations found through the

their online dating experience either somewhat

dating sites. Although these people continue to

negative or very negative. Of traditional dating,

use the sites, there are still concerns for the risks

82% rate their experience either somewhat

associated with dating websites.

positive or very positive.

Another finding of this same study was

that online relationships develop faster than

4

Although there are some negatives

associated with online dating and creating an

intimate relationship online, the online dating

traditional relationships.

market is still continuing to grow. Something that

is now effecting online dating is the emergence of

Most online daters, after a few emails

or messages, will set up a face-to-face meeting.

smart phones and other cellular technology and the

However, many online daters feel they can get to

apps that are associated with such devices.

know someone personally without ever actually

meeting them in person. Students answered the
question, How well can you get to know someone

App Dating
Mobile applications (or apps) are

among the newest form of computer-mediated

Tinder

communication (or CMC). Mobile applications

are specific software technology created for use on

quickly look through and connect with people near

mobile devices with access to internet connection

them. The creators of Tinder, Sean Rad and Justin

such as tablet computers and smartphones.

Mateen, designed it to be a fun dating game. When

creating a profile, only a few pictures and a brief

Mobile apps can be used to play games,

Tinder is one such app that allows users to

share pictures, and further communicate with

description of the user may be included for potential

others. According to a recent report, by the time

matches to view. Tinder uses the location services

the class of 2016 graduates, close to 90 percent of

on the users device to display only the profiles of

college students will own a smartphone. Given this,

users near them. The app only shows a picture at

mobile applications downloaded have reached a

first, and if the user wants to read the description

skyrocketing 30 billion in the last year.

The communication phenomenon we have

and see more pictures they can click on the

image. The user can swipe the profile left or right

noted in our observation of smartphone usage is that

depending on whether they like what they see or

of the tendency to depend on mobile applications to

not. Swiping right says like and swiping left says

build and maintain ones romantic relationships and

nope. The iconic swipe was created because Rad

affairs. Smartphone applications allow couples to

and Mateen based it off playing cards and they used

interact on a personal and intimate level. 7

the motion of pulling the first card off the deck,

which developed into the swipe.

Since about 2003 the platform of online

dating has changed with the emergence of smart

phones and the introduction of app dating. App

right then its a match! A prompt appears which

dating is the use of mobile apps to find relationships

allows the user to choose to send a message to the

or dates. This is also known as satellite dating,

new match or to keep playing. Users can either

because usually these apps find the matches for each

chat right away or keep playing the game and go

user based on their location.

back into their matches later and start a chat with

If the person the user likes also swiped

users they have matched with.

simplicity. It differs from dating websites because

Methods

it doesnt require long pieces of text to get to know

someone. Instead a simple profile is created within a

survey to understand peoples perception and

few minutes with a few short sentences. According

experiences with the dating app Tinder. In order

to the article Inside Tinder: Meet the Guys Who

to increase the amount of responses and keep

Turned Dating Into an Addiction, users continually

anonymity, a survey was the chosen method. Group

return to Tinder because its so much fun. The

members wrote the survey creating questions that

article also states that eventually the two founders

were both quantitative and qualitative.

want Tinder to evolve into more than a dating app

and be a way to connect to people in ways other

differentiate between students that used Tinder and

Tinder has caught fire because of its

than a romantic context.

There is clearly a lot of research that

This research project relied on a Qualtrics

The first question on the survey was asked to

students that did not use the app. Those participants

which selected no, were immediately directed to

has been done on dating online. The increase in

the end of the survey to answer the question Why

popularity, trends of different websites, online

do you not use Tinder? Participants were then

dating behaviors, what people prefer, how satisfied

given a list of choices along with a fill-in-the-blank

people are, safety concerns, etc have all been

option. Sample options included, I have never

analyzed. However, research in relation to students

heard of it or I feel that it is unsafe. At the end

involved in online dating, specifically via mobile

of the survey all participants, Tinder users or not,

apps, is significantly more limited. This research

were asked What ge of BYU-Idaho students do

explores the use of Tinder amongst students at

you think use Tinder? and also How many of your

Brigham Young University Idaho to answer the

roommates use Tinder.

question, How effective and popular is Tinder

amongst BYU-Idaho students?

using Tinder were asked to answer 22 additional

Participants that answered yes to

questions. The next question that followed asked if

they currently have Tinder on one of their devices.

In order to make sure the survey maintained

freely with their opinions. The other text-response

continuity, the questions were phrased both in

question that was included asked, Why did you

present and past tense ie: How long have/did you

stop using Tinder?

use(d) Tinder? This pattern was carried throughout

the whole survey.

2014 to 400 BYU-Idaho students e-mail addresses

In order to best gauge numbers, slider scales

and were randomly selected by the university.

were used to answer questions, How many times a

An identical survey was re-sent a second time

day do/did you use Tinder? And, About how many

on November 6, 2014 to elicit more responses.

dates have you been on from Tinder? A slider scale

The email stated: We are doing research for a

from 0-50 was used when asking about first dates

communications research project and we need your

and second dates.

help! Please click on the link at the bottom of the

In order to better understand peoples

page and take this short survey to help us out. This

experiences with Tinder, a single five-option Likert

quiz is created through Qualtrics and your answers

scale was used. Each question included the header

will be completely anonymous. Participation

How strongly do you agree with these statements?

is completely voluntary and participation

The options ranged from strongly disagree on the

can be discontinued at any time without any

bottom to strongly agree on the top of the scale.

repercussions.

Some sample questions in this section included I

As a result of sending out the survey twice,

am satisfied with Tinder, I would recommend

141 students responded. The randomly selected

Tinder to a friend, and It makes me nervous how

participants were all BYU-Idaho students. It did not

some of my friends and roommates use Tinder.

distinguish between day students, online students,

or other students. Although it was a survey about

In order to gather a better perception about

This survey was sent out on October 17,

what people like about Tinder and dislike, a free

a dating app it was still sent to married and single

text-response question was posed What do you

students alike. The survey was closed for responses

like most about Tinder? What do you like least?

on November 13, 2014.

This made it possible for participants to answer

Finding 1

The results of the Tinder survey showed that the

scale. It was found that more BYU-Idaho students do not go

on Tinder to find a relationship than do go on Tinder to find a
relationship. 39% answered disagree or strongly disagree,

majority of Tinder users are not using Tinder as a way to

while only 27% answered agree or strongly disagree.

find a relationship.

strongly agree. 34% of all the answers neither agreed or

This was shown through answers from the survey

There was not one person that answered the question

question BYU-Idaho student were asked to use a Likert scale

disagreed. This data shows that a little more than a third of

to answer the following question: I go on Tinder to find a

Tinder users are not using Tinder to find a relationship, while

relationship. They answered the question on a 5-point likert

less than a third are using it to find a relationship.

Finding 2

A slight negative correlation exists between the

longer users have a higher average dates per person than the
new users, even though the graph line indicates otherwise.

The 3 longer usage degrees have an average of 4.5,

length of usage and the amount of dates generated. However,

1.33, and 5 dates per person while the lower 2 have an average

the amount of dates are seemingly random and the most dates

of 3.63 and 1.46 dates per person. All the segments of data

created with Tinder was by a participant who answered to have

are plagued with blanks in the response to the number of first

used the app 3 - 6 months.

dates generated from Tinder, with the reason of such unclear

from the data itself.

The survey resulted in 33 people identifying

themselves as Tinder users. These 33 respondents have gone

In conclusion, the length of Tinder usage, in general,

on a cumulative total of 92 first dates from the app. This

will get one more dates from it. However, the number of

would be an average median of almost 3 dates per participant.

varying dates created using the app indicates the involvement

This is in not distributed evenly among the participants as the

of a third-party variable.

Finding 3

The second finding from the data is that of the 141

than a third of those saying that they were really not satisfied.
The report of the data shows not a Bell Curve but an M Curve,
so it bucks the trend of normal distribution. This M Curve oc-

participants who took the survey, just thirty of those answered

curs as both Satisfied and Not Satisfied have nine votes, while

the question concerning their satisfaction of the app.

the Neutral only had seven votes, and Really Not Satisfied had

five, or 17%.

Out of those thirty participants who used Tinder, at

one time or another, none reported being highly satisfied with

Tinder. Though a good percentage felt satisfied with the app,

satisfied with the App.

nearly 50% marked that they were not satisfied, with more

This shows that the majority of Tinder users are not

Finding 4

Students who participated in the survey thought that

When totaled, the actual amount of students who

participated in the survey and who had actually used Tinder

was 23 percent, or 34 of the 146 participants.

a higher percentage of students used Tinder when it is much

Of those 34 students only 13 still have the Tinder

less. Those surveyed thought that 41 percent of BYU-Idaho

dating app on one or more of their devices and are still active

students use Tinder when actually only 23 percent do. Out of

on the app while the other 21 do not currently have the app on

the 146 students who participated in the survey the average

any of their devices. The maximum percent that those sur-

percentage that all the participants marked for their guess as to

veyed thought that BYU-Idaho students used Tinder was 82

how many students use Tinder was 41.21 percent.

percent. The minimum percentage was 5.

Finding 5

Of the 111 responses, the majority of the people

only way the app is available. Tied at 19 percent were the two
categories of, Ive never heard of it, and, I feel that it is
unsafe which makes a little less than half the overall per-

surveyed said they didnt use Tinder because they preferred

centage. Almost a quarter of the people surveyed said that the

traditional dating. This majority was 55 percent. The second

reason they didnt use Tinder was because they didnt have

highest category for people not using Tinder was because they

time (22 percent). In the other category, which made up 38

had a negative perception of it. This categorys percentage

percent, the main reason people said they didnt use Tinder

was 41. The lowest percentage, which was 14 percent, was

was because they were married. 57 percent comprised the

because those surveyed dont have a smart phone, which is the

married portion of the other category.

Finding 6

how frequently they use Tinder: less than once a week, once

a day. 12 if the 32 participants who answered this question

a week, multiple times a week, once a day, or multiple times

Although the satisfaction responses were low, the

majority of respondents said they use Tinder multiple times

responded multiple times a day. These 12 respondents were

per day. The respondents with the most frequent usage are

asked the follow-up question of how many times a day they

dissatisfied with Tinder.

use the app. According to the survey results, the highest value

of visits per day was 12.

Of the respondents that use Tinder on a daily basis,

those who use the app most frequently are dissatisfied with

According to the graph, the coorelation is not strong,

it. Respondents were first asked which option best describes

but the R- Squared value is .089.

12
10

= Individual Tinder User

Number of Visits Per Day

Frequency of Tinder Visits of Daily Users

by Satisfaction Ratings

8
6
4
2
0

Satisfied

Neutral

Dissatisfied

Satisfaction with Tinder

Strongly
Dissatisfied

Conclusion

Mobile app dating companies and the

specific business of Tinder at large, probably

do not confine themselves to the interests of the
BYU-Idaho student population. However, data
from this survey could help create a Mormonspecific Tinder-like app, that avoids the pitfalls
of the current system. It could also be a starting
point for additional research on mobile dating apps
and their effects on society at large or within the
Mormon culture.
The survey data concluded the following: people
are not satisfied with Tinder, and they do not get
into relationships from it. Likewise, time on the
app does not correlate with the amount of dates
gained from using it. Also, people prefer traditional
dating over electronic dating, and those who are
dissatisfied have a higher rate of using the app daily.
Similarly, people think that, on average, people
use Tinder more than they actually do. Most of the
findings show a negative perception towards Tinder
though there is one positive finding.

This positive finding for Tinder is that

people who arent satisfied with it use it at a higher

rate; this means that the more people are not

satisfied with it, the more often they use the app.
The low satisfaction, however, does prevent users
from buying into Tinder. Also, since users do not
like their current app, they are hesitant to actually
buy its upgrades even with the compulsion to use
the app during their free time. However, this bored
usage creates a potential bonus for Tinder when
selling ad space becomes an option on the app.

The app is used more for entertainment than

matchmaking. This directly contradicts Tinders

purpose which is helping people meet one another.
The company should do more research on their
customers wants and desires for the app. Currently,
Tinder does a simple one-question survey that
will pop up randomly when users are engaging in
the Tinder app. The short survey asks people to
rate the app, but it fails to ask the users questions
about what the problems or benefits of Tinder
are, and really get user feedback. This will carry
ramifications in the future as participants will stray
from the app as the interest fades and new, better
dating apps are created to take Tinders place and
tempt electronic immigration.

With this in mind, the problems with Tinder

largely do not stem from the app itself but from its

users. Tinder merely offers a passage for people to

more people get into relationships, the less they

meet one another, but the character or opinion of

use the app.

those people affects their view of the other users

and the app. If they have good experiences with

attractive people on the app and this drives them to

other users they will enjoy the app, and if they

continue swiping. Nevertheless, this could become

have bad experiences with other users they will

frustrating for users by receiving continual rejected

dislike the app. This finding is illustrated through

and getting a nope rather than a like. This

the comments received in the questionnaire section

creates a dissatisfaction with the app, though it is

of the survey. Those surveyed primarily reflected

not Tinders fault. The app is merely a portal and

disapproval with the people they met and what they

not a creature itself, because it is the users as people

wanted from other users on the app.

that choose to not accept or nope the individual

user based on looks alone.

This also reveals itself in the finding of

Users become excited when they see

dissatisfied users using the app more often daily. An

The research conducted could be extended

analysis of this fact is that those who are dissatisfied

through the introduction of focus groups and the

use the app more frequently because they are either

inclusion of more survey questions. The focus

bored or seeking a relationship. However, they are

group would allow for greater triangulation of the

dissatisfied because often relationships dont start

views towards Tinder. It would also show an in-

on Tinder, and users will base their self-esteem off

depth view of the characteristics of typical Tinder

the number of likes they receive. Addicted users

users. This studys survey had some qualitative

will continue to use Tinder with the faint hope

portions to obtain a small understanding of why

that all their hours will someday result with the

people do or do not use Tinder, and what they like

reward they seek. The slight rewards the app offers

or dislike about it. However, the large portion of

such as small boosts in self-esteem, an occasional

the Tinder users psyche is beyond this research.

match, and the random date merely coaxes the

A new survey would accompany the focus group

users enough to continue returning to Tinder. This

and include new questions such as: do you know

is contrary to Tinders objectives because the

anyone that is engaged or married to someone they

met on Tinder? and, About how many matches

met their spouse while on their mission, and those

have you gotten on Tinder? and, How often do

who met their spouse on Tinder. A hierarchy could

you look at the second, third, or fourth pictures

be devised including thoughts and feelings of

provided on the Tinder-user profile that you are

those participants that fall into either of these two

viewing? This recommended survey would allow

categories, as well as questions they have gotten

for greater understanding of how users interact with

from other people. The survey could also include

Tinder and what they get out of it.

the overall perception associated with finding a

spouse in either of these two manners, and the

This survey and focus group could also

answer a future research question of: Why did

general opinion of this particular route to marriage.

people report preferring traditional dating forms

The results of this study could be cross-tabulated

more than mobile or internet dating methods even

with the general finding of the prior study that

with the accessibility of mobile apps? This would

Tinder has a negative perception associated with it.

allow Tinder to gain information on attracting new

These questions would yield interesting adults that

customers and also give an eye as to why people

would further the knowledge of online dating, its

prefer doing some things digitally, and others

effects, and perception.

things physically or organically. The results could

greatly aid business ventures who desire to expand
their market digitally or those that desire to create
mobile app companies. Indeed, the research done
for mobile app dating is largely inexistant, so these
survey results, though meager, can help progress the
studies in the new frontier of mobile app dating.

Another secondary study could be

conducted through survey and focus group

amongst an LDS population that would compare
similarities and differences between those who

Appendix
1. Have you ever used the dating app Tinder?
#

Answer

Response %
1 Yes

34 23%

Total 146
100%
Statistic Value
1

Max Value

0.42

Total Responses

146

2. Do you currently have the Tinder app on one of

your devices?
Answer

Response %
13 38%

Min Value

Max Value

Standard Deviation

0.49

Total Responses

34

Answer

Response %

Standard Deviation

Statistic Value

Variance 0.18

1 Yes

Total 34
100%

3. How long have/did you use(d) Tinder?

Mean 1.77

21 62%

Variance 0.24

112 77%

Min Value

Mean 1.62

2 No

2 No

Less than 1 month

13 38%

1 month to 3 months

12 35%

3 months to 6 months

4 12%
4

6 months to 1 year

3 9%
5

More than 1 year

2 6%
Total 34
100%

Answer

Min Value

Statistic Value

Average Value Standard Deviation

Min Value

Max Value

Max Value
Responses

3.00 12.00 7.58 2.81 12

Mean 2.09

6. About how many dates have you been on from

Variance 1.42

Tinder?

Standard Deviation

1.19

Total Responses

34

Average Value Standard Deviation

1

4. Choose which option best applies to you.

17

Question

Less than once a week

Once a week Multiple times a week Once a day

Multiple times a day Total Responses
1

First dates

Min Value
0.00

Max Value
Responses

19.00 5.47

5.20

Second dates 0.00 30.00 3.92 8.16

13

Mean

How frequently do/did you use Tinder?

7 5 5 5 12 34 3.29

7. How many non-Tinder dates have you been on

since you created your profile on Tinder?
#

Statistic

Answer

How frequently do/did you use

Tinder?

Min Value

Average Value Standard Deviation

1

Min Value

25

Max Value

Mean 3.29

Answer
First dates

0.00

Max Value
Responses

25.00 6.04

6.09

Second dates 1.00 20.00 4.80 4.80

20

Variance 2.52
Standard Deviation

1.59

8. Have you began a relationship as a result of

Total Responses

34

using Tinder?
#

5. How many times a day do/did you use Tinder?

Answer

Response %

1 Yes

3 11 9 0 32 2.63

5 15%

2 No

people I would usually date. 2

9 1 32 2.94

29 85%

Total 34
100%

The people I match with on Tinder are not

9

11

I prefer to meet people outside of Tinder.

0 0 9 4 19 32 4.31
Statistic Value

I prefer to meet people on Tinder.

Min Value

9 11 0 0 32 1.97

Max Value

I use Tinder only in Rexburg 7

Mean 1.85

5 7 3 32 2.66

Variance 0.13

12
10

I frequently change my Tinder photos.

Standard Deviation

0.36

12 11 6 3 0 32 2.00

Total Responses

34

10

It makes me nervous how some of my

friends and roommates use Tinder. 3

3 10 7 32 3.28

9. How strongly do you agree with these

statements?
#

Question

Disagree

Neither Agree nor Disagree Agree

Strongly Agree
1

Statistic

Strongly Disagree
Total Responses

I am satisfied with Tinder.

I am satisfied with Tinder.

I would recommend Tinder to a friend.

I go on

Mean

Tinder to make friends.

I go on Tinder to find

a relationship. The people I match with on Tinder

8 9 0 32 2.63

are not people I would usually date. I prefer to

meet people outside of Tinder.

I would recommend Tinder to a friend.

10 7 6 9 0 32 2.44

meet people on Tinder.

Rexburg

I go on Tinder to make friends.

10

I prefer to

I use Tinder only in

I frequently change my Tinder

5 8 8 1 32 2.53

photos. It makes me nervous how some of my

friends and roommates use Tinder.

I go on Tinder to find a relationship. 9

1 Yes

3 11 9 0 32 2.63

5 15%

2 No

people I would usually date. 2

9 1 32 2.94

29 85%

Total 34
100%

The people I match with on Tinder are not

9

11

I prefer to meet people outside of Tinder.

0 0 9 4 19 32 4.31
Statistic Value

I prefer to meet people on Tinder.

Min Value

9 11 0 0 32 1.97

Max Value

I use Tinder only in Rexburg 7

Mean 1.85

5 7 3 32 2.66

Variance 0.13

12
10

I frequently change my Tinder photos.

Standard Deviation

0.36

12 11 6 3 0 32 2.00

Total Responses

34

10

It makes me nervous how some of my

friends and roommates use Tinder. 3

3 10 7 32 3.28

9. How strongly do you agree with these

statements?
#

Question

Disagree

Neither Agree nor Disagree Agree

Strongly Agree
1

Statistic

Strongly Disagree
Total Responses

I am satisfied with Tinder.

I am satisfied with Tinder.

I would recommend Tinder to a friend.

I go on

Mean

Tinder to make friends.

I go on Tinder to find

a relationship. The people I match with on Tinder

8 9 0 32 2.63

are not people I would usually date. I prefer to

meet people outside of Tinder.

I would recommend Tinder to a friend.

10 7 6 9 0 32 2.44

meet people on Tinder.

Rexburg

I go on Tinder to make friends.

10

I prefer to

I use Tinder only in

I frequently change my Tinder

5 8 8 1 32 2.53

photos. It makes me nervous how some of my

friends and roommates use Tinder.

I go on Tinder to find a relationship. 9

Min Value
1 1 1 1 1

I like to talk to new people, I dislike that people use

3 1 1 1 1

the app inappropriately

Max Value
4 4 5 4 5

I like that it works like electronic speed dating.

5 3 5 4 5

If you both like each other based on looks and a

Mean
2.63 2.44 2.53 2.63 2.94 4.31

quick introduction, you get to talk. If you dont

1.97 2.66 2.00 3.28

keep swiping. I dislike how based on looks it is. I

Variance

wish it had the introduction on the main swiping

1.21 1.48 1.61 1.40 0.96

0.80 0.74 1.72 0.97 1.82

page so you can read something about someone

Standard Deviation 1.10 1.22 1.27 1.18

before you swipe left simply because you dont like

0.98 0.90 0.86 1.31 0.98 1.35

their looks. I also dont like the massive amounts

Total Responses 32 32 32 32

of people doing it for non committal make outs

32 32 32 32 32 32

or worse... The 1 girl I went on a date with was

engaged. Yeah.

10. What do you like most about Tinder? What do

I liked that I got some date out of it. I didnt like

you like least?

how there are scummy guys on there who only want

Text Response

to NCMO.

It is not a fun way to meet people and people are

It was a fun way to just see who was available in the

different on their profile as opposed to in person.

area. I would see people that I thought were cute but

There is not really anything positive about it.

never knew their name and so it was a fun way to

Its nice and easy to use, but is very superficial and

put names with faces

a lot of people are not looking for good stuff on

Its a good way to meet people, people never look

tinder.

the same in real life

I like getting to know people. I dont like not getting

I dont really like or dislike anything about it. I only

any dates from it

use it when I am bored. I much rather just meet

can find an attractive girl, an if they like you, then

people on my own and in person so I know what

you must not be too ugly to them!

they really are like.

Discovering more people on campus. I dont like

dtfs

the fact people dont do anything after the match.

Never really meet in person...

Statistic Value

I just like to talk to people. I dont like when you

Total Responses

23

match with some and they never message you.

I dont like it at all. It is sketchy, superficial, and

11. Why did you stop using Tinder?

used only by those who want to have sex with a

Text Response

stranger.

Got boring, waste of time. Not for me.

Ehh

Too many desperate weird people.

It was interesting to see the variety of people on this

I was called a Whore for not making out.

app. I only used the app for fun and quite honestly

got boring

didnt like it at all.

starting dating a girl from work

Cute girls

to many creepers and perverts

Its lame

The device I was using was taken and since then

How it is fun to find people, I dont like that guys

Ive had people who dont just want to cuddle with

only want to make out and not actually have a

me but will get to know me or actually text back.

relationship.

The people on tinder are not who they claim to be

Nothing

I started dating someone else and the people that

I didnt really like Tinder because there were just

contacted me on tinder made me feel uncomfortable

some sketchy people and I didnt feel safe with it so

I prefer meeting people organically

I deleted it.

It just got annoying when you had lots of matches

I like that you are able to meet a lot of new people.

but no conversations.

I dont like that Im not getting any dates out of

I dont want my kids to ask me how I met their dad

using this app, so if got asked out on a date, thatd

and have the answer be on some app.

be great....

Ehh

When people will ask if your down for ncmo and

I knew I never would want a relationship to come

from using this app.

Mean 1.79

its lame

Variance 1.67

met a lot of creeps

Standard Deviation

1.29

It wasnt really helping me find anyone I have a lot

Total Responses

33

in common with. I would rather find someone the

traditional way.

13. Why do you not use Tinder? Check all that

apply.

Statistic Value
Total Responses

#
17

Answer

Response %
1

Ive never heard of it.

12. What is your relationship status?

21 19%

I have a negative perception of it.

Answer

Response %

Single

46 41%

23 70%

I feel that it is unsafe.

2 Married

21 19%

2 6%

I dont have time.

3 Divorced

24 22%

0 0%

I dont have a smart phone or device.

In a relationship

8 24%

15 14%

Total 33
100%

I prefer traditional dating.

61 55%

Statistic Value

Other (please specify)

Min Value

42 38%

Max Value

Other (please specify)

Im married.

Im married

I am married

Tinder is specifically designed to help people find

Im married.

someone to have sex with. This is the purpose of

self respect

tinder. Since Im not interested in hooking up, I

Its childish and slightly objectifying

have no use for tinder. I think tinder is disgusting.

I dont really care about dating apps.

Im married and have been since before Tinder

I dont care to use it

Im not that desperate

Im married

Im married

Im engaged

Im not desperate

Im married

Dont really care about dating

I am married

Im already married

Sounds dumb, and a bit shallow.

Im married

I havent gotten around to it

I dont date to begin with.

Im married

Im married

I am married

I have self respect

I think this is ridiculous

Im married

I am married

Im married

Its an unhealthy way to view humans and

I am married

relationships.

Im married

I am married

Not interested in dating right now

Its a good way to meet bad people

Married

Umm. Im married?

Gay

24 married: 57%

Im married
I think its silly and wouldnt be able to have a

Statistic Value

serious relationship as a result

Min Value

Max Value

Footnotes

Total Responses

111

1. Merkle, Erich R., and Rhonda A. Richardson. 2000.

14. What percentage of BYU-Idaho students do

Digital dating and virtual relating: Conceptualizing computer

you think use Tinder?

mediated romantic relationships. Family Relations: An

Answer

Min Value

Average Value Standard Deviation

1

Max Value

Interdisciplinary Journal Of Applied Family Studies 49, no.

Responses

2: 187-192. PsycINFO, EBSCOhost (accessed December 16,

5.00 82.00 41.21 20.94 121

2014).

15. How many roommates do you have that use/

2. Chih-Chien, Wang and Chang Ya- Ting. Cyber

have used Tinder?

Relationship Motives: Scale Development and Validation.

Answer

Min Value

Average Value Standard Deviation

1

Max Value

Social Behavior & Personality: An International Journal

Responses

38, no. 3 (April 2010): 289-300. Academic Search Premier,

0.00 8.00 2.42 2.05 77

EBSCOhost (accessed October 16, 2014).

3. Kang, Tanya, and Lindsay H. Hoffman. Why Would

You Decide to Use an Online Dating Site? Factors That Lead
to Online Dating. Communication Research Reports 28,
no. 3 (July 2011): 205-213. Communication & Mass Media
Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed October 15, 2014).

4. Rosen, Larry D., Nancy A. Cheever, Cheyenne Cummings,

and Julie Felt. 2008. The impact of emotionality and
self-disclosure on online dating versus traditional dating.
Computers In Human Behavior 24, no. 5: 2124-2157.

Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed December

15, 2014).

5. Couch, Danielle, Pranee Liamputtong, and Marian Pitts.

2012. What are the real and perceived risks and dangers
of online dating? Perspectives from online daters. Health,
Risk & Society 14, no. 7/8: 697-714. CINAHL, EBSCOhost
(accessed October 16, 2014).

6. Kang, Tanya, and Lindsay H. Hoffman. Why Would You

Decide to Use an Online Dating Site? Factors That Lead
to Online Dating. Communication Research Reports 28,
no. 3 (July 2011): 205-213. Communication & Mass Media
Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed October 15, 2014).

7. Clemens, Samuel Langhorn, William Cuthbert Faulkner,

Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Judith Sargent Murray, Louisa
May Alcott, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Carl August
Sandburg. PubYear. Primarytitle. Journal of Applied Theory
Volume (Issue) (PubDateFreeForm): StartPg-OtherPg, Links
(accessed RetrievedDate).(Clemens et al. PubYear, StartPgOtherPg)

8. Stampler, Laura. Inside Tinder: Meet the Guys Who

Turned Dating Into an Addiction. Time.Com (February 10,
2014): 1. Academic Search Premier