Monogamy and Marriage Study

Monogamy in the 21st Century


Is kissing someone other than your spouse “cheating”? Is cyber-sex “allowed”? What about sex or physical contact with someone else while traveling on business or on vacation? How and where do you set the boundaries of sexual and social interactions outside of your marriage?

Marriage is currently a hot topic in the news, and yet the truth is that we have a great deal more to learn about how contemporary couples understand marriage, commitment, and sexuality.

If you are over 18 years old and currently married, you are eligible to participate in a new, CONFIDENTIAL research study on people’s attitudes about sexual exclusivity in marriage. The purpose of the study is to gain a better understanding of how couples limit their social and sexual activity throughout their marriages. Because of this, we are interested in having both members of a couple complete the survey. Special arrangements can be made for couples involved in alternative relationship styles or for individuals who do not wish to involve a spouse.

The researchers are experienced social scientists in the areas of sex, love, and relationships. Katherine Frank is a cultural anthropologist and a postdoctoral fellow and John DeLamater is a professor of sociology. Both are in the Department of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Your responses, should you choose to participate, will not be shared with your spouse or anyone else. If you complete the survey online, your answers will be immediately entered into the database. If you complete the paper survey, you may return your survey in one of the postage paid envelopes provided for privacy. Any contact information that you have provided the researchers will be destroyed once the survey portion of the study is completed, unless you would like to be contacted for an interview. If you indicate a desire to be contacted for an interview, your contact information will be stored separately from your survey data and will be saved only as long as necessary to schedule and complete an interview.

If you are interested in finding out more information about the study or becoming a participant, please contact Katherine Frank at [EDITED.. no advertisemets please! ], request an access code at [EDITED... no advertisements please! ], or call ###-###-#### ( <--- No phone numbers either! Sorry :( +