本研究主要目的是藉由夫妻雙方的參與，了解在擇偶過程中影響關係發展的關鍵因素，並分析不同性別、關係發展階段及關係發展類型在知覺這些關鍵因素上的差異。以深度訪談法進行資料收集，並將訪談內容轉為量化資料，共訪問70對新婚夫妻。研究結果發現：在擇偶過程中對兩人關係造成影響的因素可分為四類，分別為（一）個人認知因素：包含個人對理想配偶的標準及對理想婚姻或關係的期待等兩個次類別；（二）關係互動因素：包含一起從事的活動、單方或雙方的自我揭露及溝通、共同興趣及價值觀、衝突或爭執、單雙方對關係階段的重新定義、親密行為等六個次類別；（三）社交網絡因素：包含家人的支持或反對、家中發生的事件、朋友或其他重要他人、第三者及社會比較等五個次類別；（四）環境外力因素：包含天災、社會制度、經濟狀況、距離、超自然的力量、宗教信仰與習俗等七個次類別。在這四大類因素中，又以關係互動因素所佔比例最高，顯示在擇偶過程中雙方的互動對關係的發展有很大的影響。其次，在台灣適婚男女的擇偶歷程中，雙方父母及其他社交網絡中成員的看法仍有重要的影響力。最後，本研究也發現，影響關係發展的關鍵因素會因性別、關係發展階段及關係類型而有差異。研究者並討論上述結果對於日後研究發展方向及實務工作的啟發。

The purpose of this study was to investigate critical events that affect relationship development during mate selection processes. Seventy newly-married couples participated in semi-structured interviews. Participants were asked to remember as accurately as possible the events which led to their decision to marry and explain why each event resulted in increasing or decreasing of commitment. Researchers read each transcript and generated four categories of subjective inferences. Intrapersonal factors were explanations in which the partner and the relationship are evaluated against some personal standards. Dyadic factors included behavior and subjective interdependence, conflict, self-disclosure, and redefinitions of the stage of involvement. Social network factors made references to interaction with or attributions about third parties such as relatives, friends, and other dating partners. Circumstantial factors were anticipated or unanticipated events over which the person had little or no control, and which stemmed from institutions or forces external to the person or their relationships. Results indicated that both dyadic and social network factors were important in marital decision during the mate selection processes for Taiwanese couples. Gender, stage, and relationship type differences in partners' references were also found.