ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces some of the basic “facts” and key concepts of the fi eld of relationship science. We begin by considering exactly what scientists mean when they refer to the concept of “relationship” and how they typically determine whether two people actually are involved in one. We also discuss the specifi c kinds of relationship that typically are investigated, and we examine the
various factors that affect how partners interact with one another and the outcomes they experience. As you will see, relationship science represents one of the most challenging and uniquely rewarding fi elds of inquiry.
