PAIR Project Qualitative Data

The links below provide information on the PAIR Project's qualitative data collection methods, and include some excerpts of actual couple interviews.

Case Studies

Our case studies, primarily written by graduate students, integrate an individual couple's quantitative data with qualitative interview material to create a nuanced portrait of the couple's life together.

 

Courtship Narratives

When PAIR couples were newlyweds, we asked them to tell the story of their courtship. This document explains the structured intervew technique we used, and provides excerpts of narratives gathered from couples who divorced before their second wedding anniversary.

 

Life Events Timeline

At Phases One, Two, and Three, spouses indicated any major life events that they or their partner had experienced, when the event occurred, and provided any comments they may have had on the situation.

 

Domain Satisfaction

After rating their satisfaction with nine different areas of their marriage, spouses explained the reasons behind their rating.

 

Interviewer Observations

After each face-to-face interview, each researcher recorded their thoughts and feelings about the couple they had just interviewed.

 

Processes of Divorce

Thirteen years after our couples were married, we conducted a structured interview with those individuals who had divorced, gathering their impressions about the pathway that led them to divorce.

 

Miscellaneous Qualitative Information

In addition to the data gathered systematically from all respondents, some individuals chose to provide additional personal information.