The question set and automatic checks used for this study.
2026 STUDY / RESULTSCollecting responses
What people expect
from dating.
What people who take part say about dating: what they expect to spend, who they expect to pay, how their preferences fit their goals, and what they will not compromise on. These results describe participants, not everyone in the U.S.
Take the study to help us reach the number of responses needed for review.Take the 2-minute study →
0responses received
250+needed before publishing
50+needed in each group
COLLECTING RESPONSES / RESULTS NOT PUBLIC
Results are not public yet.
We show the number of responses, how the study works, and the rules for sharing results. We publish findings only after enough responses pass our checks.
Take the study without an account →STUDY STATUS / DEI-2026-RELEASE-01COLLECTING RESPONSES
Study rules are public. Results come later.
This page shows what is available now and what is still private. You can read the study plan, questions, sample rules, and release details. Results stay private until every check passes.
No results are public. The results file is locked.
We need enough responses, quality checks, and a clear decision before we publish.
Each group needs this many checked responses counted one by one. Smaller groups stay hidden.
DOWNLOADS / FOR REUSE
Download the study files and rules.
- Release details JSON ↓
- Release history CSV ↓
- Question guide CSV ↓
- Status card SVG ↓
- Checked results CSV / NOT YET AVAILABLEAvailable only after enough responses, quality checks, and approval.
CITATION / STUDY STATUS
The Pool Report. “Dating Expectations Index 2026: Release Ledger and Study Protocol.” dei-2026-release-01, study version 4, updated 2026-07-22. https://datingpoolreport.com/research/expectations-index. Findings not yet published; fieldwork and review gates remain open.
HOW TO READ THESE RESULTS
We publish a number only after these checks.
Voluntary sample
Adults who visit the site choose whether to take part. Results describe these participants, not the whole country.
Minimum samples
We publish no summary until at least 250 responses pass review. A gender group appears only when it has at least 50 responses counted one by one.
No individual answers
We publish only checked totals and percentages. We hide small groups and never publish individual responses.
Show the full group
Every chart shows how many responses it uses, when we collected them, and who took part. This keeps each number tied to its evidence.
Before you share a number.
Does this show what all men or women expect?+
No. It describes adults who chose to take part through the Pool Report. A gender group appears only after it reaches the minimum sample.
Why not publish results immediately?+
Small samples can change a lot, and rare combinations can make people easier to identify. We wait for enough responses, check them, and hide small groups before we publish.
Is dating spend actual or expected spend?+
It is expected spending. We ask what people think they will spend in a typical month while actively dating. People choose a range, and we do not check it against bank or purchase records.
Can I use the study files?+
No findings are public yet. The study definitions and release record are available above; individual responses stay private.