4 Science-Backed Tips For Better Dating

Picture a David Attenborough documentary. He's explaining the mating call of a South American tree frog, or the mating dance of a rare bird. Researchers have sunk hours of study into the mating rituals of Earth's various winged, scaled, and furry creatues.

And humans? We may not have the wings, scales, and fur, or the charming British narrator, but scientists are just as dedicated to discovering the secrets of our own mating habits. Thousands of subjects in hundreds of studies have made calculated dating movies – some right, some wrong – so that you can learn from their actions.

While every study has its limitations, we can use research to shed light on what does and doesn't work, hopefully upping our chances of success in the process. Tech Insider compiled 7 dating tips science says singles should follow if they're serious about finding love, including:

#1 Date as much as you can.

It's painfully simple when you think about it: the more you date, the better you know what you want and don't want in a relationship. The only way to figure out what works is to test it (a lesson that also comes from scientific research). And there's a second piece to this puzzle. Once you know what you want, you must figure out how to attract someone with those qualities and how to maintain a relationship with them. Those things, too, only come with trial and error.

#2 Communication really is as important as everyone says.

A 2013 study conducted at Stanford University took a closer look at what causes that illusive “click” between strangers. Participants went on a series of speed dates, then filled out a survey about the connections (or lack thereof) they felt. Women preferred men who used appreciative ("That's awesome") and sympathetic ("That must be tough") language. Additionally, “both genders reported a better connection when the woman was the focus of the conversation,” writes Tech Insider, “and the men showed 'alignment and understanding.'”

#3 Employ the 70:30 rule. A study published in the journal Evidence Based Medicine from Queen Mary University of London suggests using the “70:30 rule” in your online profile in order to attract the most matches. Dedicate 70% of your profile to talking about who you are, and 30% to explaining what you're looking for in a partner. Using the entirety of your profile to talk about yourself can make you seem self-centered, but if you talk about yourself too little, potential dates are likely to suspect you're concealing something.

#4 Just do it.

Nike had it right. If you're into someone, the best course of action is to go for it. A study of communication behavior in online dating from the University of California, Berkeley, found that waiting too long to respond to a message can backfire. It also found that people who were already chatting with someone were more likely to respond to messages from other people – meaning someone you're interested in could be wooed away by another suitor if you don't act quickly enough. And just to make things crystal clear, the researchers write that "the data suggested there was no such thing as too quick a reply."

Read the remaining three science-backed dating tips at the source.