Shifts in Methodology and Theory in Menstrual Cycle Research on Attraction

Christine R. Harris, Aimee Chabot, Laura Mickes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

32 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper critically examines the hypothesis that different phases of the menstrual cycle induce changes in women's mate preferences. Empirically, we show that literature on this topic may be particularly prone to experimenter degrees of freedom, in which experimenters increase their likelihood of finding significant effects through elasticity in methodological and analytical strategies (e.g., flexibility in calculation of fertile and nonfertile phases, exclusion criteria, moderators, and analysis of dependent variables). Theoretically, we address misconceptions presented by Gildersleeve and colleagues (2013a). We reveal inconsistencies in the theoretical foundation for this work and discuss tension between theory and data. In short, there is sound reason to question whether reported menstrual cycle effects in women's mate preferences are indeed real.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)525-535
Number of pages11
JournalSex Roles
Volume69
Issue number9-10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2013

Keywords

  • Attractiveness
  • Evolutionary theory
  • Experimenter degrees of freedom
  • Infidelity
  • Masculinity preferences
  • Mate preferences
  • Menstrual cycle shifts
  • Ovulatory cycle
  • Replicablity

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