Collins and Miller (1994)

Aim

To investigate a possible link between self-disclosure and liking in the maintenance of relationships

Procedure

• A meta-analysis was taken from research articles on the topic of self disclosure

• Researchers used a range of journal articles published 1955 and 1992

• They isolated key terms linked to self disclosure and liking

• They also used studies found in a variety of academic textbooks to supply the sample for their meta-analysis

• A statistical program was used to look for effect size in studies of self disclosure in relationships

Findings

• Liking appeared to be associated with self-disclosure, with positive correlations and effect sizes for these two variables

• This was particularly true for self-report studies

• Intimacy is linked to liking- people will disclose more to those who they already feel close to and the act of disclosing also increases liking

Strengths

• Meta-analysis used triangulation, which means findings from one study can be viewed in the light of the findings from another study which increases validity

• Less prone to bias as using secondary data results in fewer opportunities to confound results

• Used variety of statistical measures, increases reliability

Limitations

• Secondary data is less secure than data gathered at first hand

• They don’t have control over the procedures and can have an effect on the reliability of the findings

• The statistical measures cannot reveal why and how self-disclosure takes place, only that it does