Hooking Up In West Chester University

Hooking Up in West Chester University

Lisa Eisemann
Colleen Curry
Shannon Glass

Communication Research, MWF 3-3:50

Kelly Daly
May 6, 2013

Hooking Up In West Chester University

One of the most significant and recent changes in the college culture is that there are no
longer clear identifications of statuses in dating relationships (Owen, Rhoades, Stanley, Fincham,
2010). This unclear act would be described and portrayed as hooking up. Hooking up is one
of the most prevalently used phrases in todays society among college students. Hooking up can
be described as acts of sexual activity, varying from kissing to sexual intercourse. Glenn and
Marquardt (2010) argue that the phrase hooking up is so popular because of its unclear
definition. This study will investigate 400 West Chester University students. It will test fifty
males and fifty females from each year (freshman, sophomore, junior, seniors) excluding the
graduate program, commuters with a distance over thirty minutes, students in relationships, and
those that do not identify as either male or female. The purpose of this study is to better
understand how West Chester University students portray hooking up. Previous experiments did
not focus on West Chester University and being that this is where we are, we wanted to gather
more information on the topic.
Review of Literature
Previous research has been done on this topic in other areas of the country. The research
we found looked at hooking up in three different ways. The first being the factors of hooking up,
the second the effects of hooking up, and the third was the attitudes towards hooking up.
Factors and Influences of Hooking Up
Klein, Geaghan, MacDonald (2007) used the results from 380 students on a liberal arts
college. The questionnaire included risk perceptions using a likert scale, alcohol consumption
and unplanned sex, and dispositional optimism. For this particular study they have defined
hooking up as an impromptu sexual encounter warranting a negative consequence between

Hooking Up In West Chester University

strangers. Additionally this study showed that students who consumed alcohol were the ones
most likely to be influenced by this factor and therefore less likely to wear protection (Klein,
Geaghan, MacDonald).
Glenn and Marquardt (2010) did their research on women in college. They looked at
how dating and mating has changed in recent years. They explain that using the term hooking
up can allow women to be vague in talking about any sexual encounters because there are so
many definitions for the term. They found that most of the time women find hooking up
confusing, hurtful, and awkward (p. 20). Because of this, they wanted to look more into why it
occurs so often. They discovered three main reasons. The first was that by hooking up, you
avoid hurt and rejection. The second was that it is easier to pretend feelings dont exist.
And, the third reason was to avoid being hurt from a future breakup. The reasons all had
something to do with emotional feelings even if that was what was being avoided. In the end,
they found that defining hooking up and reasons for it can never fully be explained.
Stinson (2010) talked about hooking up as a new phenomenon. She makes a point to
note that hooking up and dating are not the same thing. She researched why hooking up has
become the norm and notes that there has been a shift of intimacy throughout the 20th century
(p. 101). Stinson also looks into peer groups and pop culture influence on what college students
perceive as the social norm. Hooking up is used as a developmental experience now that it is
part of the social norm. In the end she finds that the new phenomenon can be both beneficial and
negative for college students
Effects and Consequences of Hooking Up

Hooking Up In West Chester University

Owen and Fincham (2010) sampled 172 men and 328 women with a median age of
nineteen. They used questions to measure alcohol consumption and condom use, the UCLA
loneliness scale, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale. When defining
hooking up, Owen and Fincham acknowledge that this is a norm in college for men and women
to engage in sexual encounters, but define it as hooking up as any sexual encounter that only
occurs once and does not necessarily lead to a committed relationship. Owen and Fincham
studied the differences of gender in terms of emotions after hooking up and the processes of a
hooking up encounter. In the end, they found that men were more likely to report that hooking
up encounters were associated with more positive and less negative emotional reactions than
women (p.327). Though this was the case and women reported having more negative reactions
than men, they both reported that emotional reactions tended to be largely more positive than
negative (p.327).
Causes and Effects of Hooking Up
Owen, Fincham, and Moore (2011) concluded results from 394 participants, 301 women
and 93 men. The participants answered an online survey including measurements: hooking up
definition, type of physical intimacy, depressive symptom, and loneliness. Owen, Fincham, and
Moore looked at the effects and reasons of hooking up among college students. This study also
talked about the factors that are involved in why students hook up. In this study hooking up is
defined as any spontaneous activity from kissing to intercourse with alcohol and a level of
loneliness involved as a result of unclear partner motivations. Research has found that although
women engage in non-committal sexual relations more frequently than in the past, they also have
higher instances of alcohol involvement (Owen, Fincham, and Moore). Psychological distress
can be both a predicator and consequence of hooking up.

Hooking Up In West Chester University

Attitudes towards Hooking Up in college
Epstein, Calzo, Smiler, and Ward (2009) found participants from students who had
participated in two surveys they distributed, resulting in 97 overall participants. They conducted
interviews with the participants. According to Epstein, Calzo, Smiler & Ward a hook up has to
include two people who are not involved in an exclusive or committed relationship. These people
also never engage in a committed relationship in the future and the sexual encounter must only
occur over a short period. This study includes a variety of non-relational sexual behaviors as
hooking up as long as it has fits all three categories in the agreed upon blueprint. Epstein, Calzo,
Smiler, and Ward found that when studies compare men and women on relational and nonrelational sex, they support the idea that men seek non-relational sex over traditional dating (p.
415). By only talking to men, Epstein, Calzo, Smiler, and Ward were able to examine much
more closely mens nonrelational sexual experiences (p. 416).
Lambert, Kahn, Apple (2003) found results from their sample of 75 female and 152 male
college students. They used a questionnaire to develop students attitudes toward hooking up
.Lambert, Kahn, Apple focused on conforming to the norm when it comes to hooking up. They
connected college students conforming to the norm and their sexual behaviors. The study used
both males and females. And in the end they did find a connection between conformation and
expectations of sexual intercourse.
Dilatush and Murrys (2011) results came from 134 student participants, 70 females and
64 males. They tested measurements using the Female Sexual Subjectivity Inventory (FSSI) and
the Sexual Objectification Scale Revised (SOS-R). In this study, hooking up can be defined as
adolescents who are actively engaging in sexual activities simply because they are physically

Hooking Up In West Chester University

attracted to that person. This can range from kissing to sexual intercourse and is frequently
accompanied by alcohol among college students (Dilatush & Murry). The purpose of their study
was to measure sexual subjectivity and sexual objectification. Their study had found an increase
of sense of entitlement to sexual pleasure from partner in women than in previous studies, as
well as, an increase in self-efficacy in achieving sexual pleasure (p. 74). There seemed to be
no difference between men and women when referring to perceived self efficacy in achieving
sexual pleasure and women even scoring higher than men when measuring sense of
entitlement to sexual pleasure from partner (p. 74).
Reid, Elliott, and Webber (2011) used a content analysis of short narratives written by
college students for their study purposes. The median age was 19; 61% female, 39% male. The
researchers asked students to write about two topics: behavior at a party and behavior on a date.
Unlike previous studies, to help explain and provide clarity to the new sexual double standard
among college students, hooking up can be any type of sexual interaction that acts as a gateway
to a relationship (Reid, Elliott, & Webber). Reid, Elliott, and Webber focused on hooking up in
relevance to dates, the sexual double standard, and future relationships. They found that in terms
of the dating steps, they have been changed. College students tend to go from casual sexual
interaction to dates (p.547). They found that it tends to be more acceptable in college for
women to be sexual but that sexual scripts still exist.
Purpose of Study
After reviewing other scholarly articles on hooking up in different areas, we became
more interested in researching this topic closer to home. The purpose of this study is to identify
hooking up patterns in college students attending West Chester University. This experiment will

Hooking Up In West Chester University

identify the differences in freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior students hooking up
experiences. We propose that hooking up will be more dominant in younger students (freshman
and sophomore) than in older students (juniors and seniors).
Method
Participants
Information from 400 undergraduate students from West Chester University will be used in the
present study. Each class, freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior will be surveyed using the
same exact survey. Having a dynamic of the four classes will allow us to get perspectives
accordingly to age and maturity level. The purposed hypothesis is that younger students i.e.
freshman and sophomores will partake in more sexual encounters than those of older students.
400 total surveys will be taken into account for the purpose of this study. Each class will extract
50 male and 50 female completed surveys. These extracted surveys will be those who meet our
requirements; being a West Chester University undergraduate student, identifying as either male
or female, and being single not in a mutually committed relationship. Some participants will
be excluded in our study. First, if they either check off being in a relationship or its
complicated. Being in either a committed relationship or undecided will make them an unfit
subject. The male/female cannot give us the proper feedback for Hooking-up at West Chester
University if they are cheating or unsure of their status. Second, participants will not be
included in the study if they checked off transgender or other for the purpose of this specific
study. Those participants could skew the results of the data in which we are not looking for. This
will also be done to prove/dis-prove Owen, Rhoades, Stanley, and Fincham (2010) theory on
men typically report hooking up more than women (pp. 663). Third and finally, students whom
commute from a distance farther than 30 minutes will be omitted. This being that these students

Hooking Up In West Chester University

do not experience the typical college life and there sexual relations are estimated to be not on
campus.
Procedure
At West Chester University, participants will be engaged through email. A meeting with the dean
of the university will be held for her approval to allow/ensure this is appropriate research to be
held on campus. To encourage students to participate, additional meetings will be held with
faculty members to approve allowing extra credit for partaking in the research. The students will
be further encouraged to participate, with the help of a donated Ipad. On the email it is going to
explain to students who do the survey they will be in a raffle to win the prize. Surveys are going
to be sent to all students attending West Chester University currently. This email will explain our
research is completely anonymous being that hooking-up is a touchy and personal subject.
15,000 plus emails are going to be sent out. We will then remove the unfit surveys to compile
our data with the useable surveys.
Measurements
The survey provides a definition of hooking up that best described the term from previous
research: hooking-up has emerged to reference physically intimate behaviors ranging from
passionate kissing and petting to oral sex or intercourse that occurs outside the context of a
relationship (Bisson & Levine, 2009 pp.67) The survey then goes on to ask general and in-depth
questions regarding our topic. The first 6 six questions are designed to determine if the
participants are fit for our study. The surveys will be sent to everyone on campus to get greater
feedback allowing all to engage without knowing exactly what the study is searching for. The
next questions 7 to 11 allows us to understand what the participant define hooking-up as. The

Hooking Up In West Chester University

first 6 questions allows us get a general consensus of what each subcategory (year, gender, and
age), define this term as. Questions 12 and 13 incorporate mutually exclusive multiple choice
questions; by asking the participant a ratio of how often they engage in hooking-up and the
alcohol they consume before the action. Glenn and Marquardt (2010) contend that when one is
drunk it loosen[s] ones inhibitions and makes it easier to hook up (pp.15) The final five
questions ask participants to rate how often they do certain actions pertaining to hooking-up on a
likert scale ranging from 1-10 (one being the least often and 10 being the most often). One
question, asking the likeliness of hooking-up with a friend/classmate, supports Bisson and
Levines that friendship and romantic relationship has a level of trust, interdependence, and
trust (2009 pp. 66). These questions are designed to analyze the students at West Chester
University (freshman-senior) on their take/actions involving the ever changing definition of
hooking-up.
Conclusion
This study can help further research on not only the general topic of hooking up, but the
specifics for hooking up among West Chester students. Examples of this could be: looking into
the social life of students, relationship status, and alcohol influence in the university. Some
weaknesses are that surveys are often unwillingly completed and not all answers are 100%
truthful. After participating in both qualitative research (interview assignment) and now
quantitative research, we have learned the how both can be used by researchers. By using
surveys, we are limited to get a full interview with students on this topic. Using surveys in our
quantitative research, has allowed us to see the pros and cons of this method. Quantitative
research allows feedback and more people in less time. A negative aspect of quantitative
research is not getting extensive research or a clear understanding of peoples feelings.

Hooking Up In West Chester University

References
Bisson, M. A., & Levine, T. R. (2009). Negotiating a friends with benefits relationship.
Archives of Sexual Behavior. Pp. 66-73
Dilatush, C., & Murry, C. (2011). Eyes Wide Open: Gender similarities and differences in
sexual subjectivity and sexual objectification in todays hook-up culture. International
Journal of Humanities and Social Science. Vol. 1 No. 9 pp. 70-75
Epstein, M., Calzo, J., Smiler, A., & Ward, L. (2009). "Anything from making out to having
sex": men's negotiations of hooking up and friends with benefits scripts. Journal Of Sex
Research, 46(5), 414-424.
Glenn, N., & Marquardt, E. (2010). Hooking up, hanging out, and hoping for Mr. Right: College
woman on dating and mating today. New York: Institute for American Values. pp. 13-23
Klein, W., Geaghan, T., & MacDonald, T. (2007). Unplanned Sexual Activity as a Consequence
of Alcohol Use: A Prospective Study of Risk Perceptions and Alcohol Use Among
College Freshmen. Journal Of American College Health, 56(3), 317-323.
Kooyman, L., Pierce, G., & Zavadil, A. (2011). Hooking Up and Identity Development of
Female College Students. Adultspan: Theory Research & Practice, 10(1), 4-13.
Owen, J., & Fincham, F. (2011). Young Adults Emotional Reactions After Hooking Up
Encounters: Arch Sex Behaviors pp. 321-330
Owen, J., Fincham, F., & Moore, J. (2011). Short-term prospective study of hooking up among
college students. Archives Of Sexual Behavior, 40(2), 331-341.

Hooking Up In West Chester University

Owen, J., Rhoades, G., Stanley, S., & Fincham, F. (2010). 'Hooking Up' Among College
Students: Demographic and Psychosocial Correlates. Archives Of Sexual Behavior,
39(3), 653-663.
Reid, J., Elliott, S., & Webber G. (2011). Casual Hookups to Formal Dates: Refining the
Boundaries of the Sexual Double Standard. Gender & Society, 25, 545-566.
Casual Hookups to Formal Dates : Refining the Boundaries of the Sexual
Stinson, R. (2010). Hooking up in Young Adulthood: A Review of Factors Influencing the
Sexual Behavior of College Students. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 24, 98
115.
Tracy A. Lambert, Arnold S. Kahn and Kevin J. Apple (2003). The Journal of Sex Research,
Vol. 40, No. 2 pp. 129-133

Hooking Up In West Chester University

Appendix
Hooking-up at West Chester University
When completing this study, all answers will remain completely confidential.
Hooking-up: physically intimate behaviors ranging from passionate kissing and petting to oral
sex or intercourse that occurs outside of the context of a relationship.
Please check off the appropriate answer that applies to your given situation.

1. What is your year?

Freshman

2. What is your gender?

3. What is your age?

Sophomore

Junior

Male Female Transgender

17-18

4. What is your relationship status?

19-20

Other

21-22

Single

23+

Relationship

5. Do you commute to West Chester University?

Yes

6. If you do commute is it less than 30 minutes?

Yes

9. Does hooking-up include oral sex? Yes

Yes No
No

Complicated
No
No

7. Do you agree with the definition above on Hooking-up?

8. Does hooking-up ONLY involve kissing?

Senior

Yes

Maybe

11. Provide your definition of hooking-up if it differs from the one above.

12. How often do you engage in hooking-up in a month?

1-2 times

3-4 times

Maybe

Maybe

10. Does hooking-up predominantly mean sexual intercourse? Yes

0 times

No

4+ times

No

Maybe

Hooking Up In West Chester University

13. How many alcoholic drinks do you have when engaging in hooking-up?
0 drinks

2-3 drinks

4-5 drinks

6+ drinks

How Likely..
1 being the least often 10 being the most often often
14. Are you to hook-up again with the same person?
1

10

15. Are you to keep in contact with the person you hook-up with?
1

10

10

10

16. Will a relationship occur out of a hook-up?

1

17. Will you hook-up with a class-mate or mutual friend?

1

18. Will you hook up with someone completely un-known or random?

1

10

Thank you for your time and effort, and as always practice safe sex.

Hooking Up In West Chester University