Here is the compiled research of everyone so far.  I think we need to turn this in through e-mail, but thought that a master list on the blog would help everyone to look over all the research and share ideas.

Questions for both Men and Women

These questions are ideas to talk about for after you’ve introduced yourself and you’re talking to the person.

(Really they could also be used on a first date)

 Where are you from?

 If you had three wishes, what would they be in order of importance?

What is your favorite season of the year and why?

Have you seen/read/played any good movies/books/games lately?

What is the one thing you would most like me to know about you? (Who can answer that??)

What is your dream job?

What is your favorite type of music? Name some of your favorite bands.

If you could have lunch with any person, living or deceased, who would it be and why?

Do you like animals and/or have pets?

What do you like to do in your spare time?

What kind of work do you do?

What’s the weirdest thing that ever happened to you?

What was your favorite book when you were young?

What would you do if you won the lottery?

Are you a morning or a night person?

What type of food could you never live without?

What is your dream vacation?

AVOID THESE TOPICS:

Politics

Religion

Marriage

Children

Ex’s

Sex

Cliché’s (I.e. Long romantic walks on the beach)

Any story where you did something obviously stupid (And I don’t mean silly stories to make her laugh like the time you tripped in front of an audience. Don’t tell stories where you trespassed and got arrested, ect)

Rebecca’s Notes: Make sure you maintain eye contact and pay attention to what they are saying. 

A thought about clothing:

I was also thinking about the best way to look while doing this. If you are going out somewhere like a party or a bar with the intention of trying to meet someone, dress accordingly to how you want them to see you.

Women: Modest clothing could give the impression you don’t want anything sexual until ways down the road- which may or may not be the case. Dress accordingly. Revealing could say that you only want to date for physical benefits- which again, may or may not be the case. You can be sexy without being revealing. A form fitting sweater can say sexy without saying slutty. Or a pretty skirt that’s (as my teacher once told me) short enough to keep it interesting, but long enough to cover the important part. Like an essay!

Men: Wearing ripped up shorts and an old t-shirt could say you are lazy, messy, and not much of a go getter-Again, not always the case but clothing can make these assumptions. Wearing a suit can make you appear successful and debonair, but depending on where you are at it could also make you look overdressed and strange. Good advice might be to find nice clothes that accentuate you. Like jeans with a nice button down.

However, if you’re just going to a theme park, or the mall, or school, keep it casual. Wearing your favorite video game or music band t-shirt could spark interest and conversation! 

Please let me know your thoughts on this! 

I tend to babble a lot so I’ve bolded most of the main points ^^” sorry haha

PERSONALITY TYPES

So basically, there are many different theories and rundowns on how to classify someone’s “personality.” There’s the differentiation between a personality “type” and personality “traits”, the former to be considered more qualitative differences, while traits refer to more specific, quantitative factors. 

Two of the most fundamental categories of people are Introverts and Extroverts, though they are considered to be on a continuous dimension in which many people can be categorized somewhere along the middle. In fact, it’s important to keep in mind that most people DON’T tend to stick to either one or the other, rather they are a combination, and even extreme extroverts or introverts don’t always act exactly according to their type. That being said:

EXTROVERTS tend to be outgoing, talkative, enthusiastic, energetic, and take pleasure in activities that involve large social gatherings. They tend to become more energize around other people and enjoy human interactions, finding their sources of gratification outside of the self.  Overall, their focus is on the outer world. Often, they come across as “happier” than introverts (whole conversation about western cultural bias towards extroverts we’re not going to get into)

INTROVERTS are often described as people whose energy “expands through reflection, and dwindle during interaction” – in other words, it’s not that they cannot be social, but rather, they lose (rather than gain) energy in interactions with large groups of people. Introverts tend to be more reserved, and less outspoken in groups; they like to observe situations or activities before participating themselves. They prefer solitary activities over social ones, and might be easily overwhelmed. On the other hand, they may enjoy spending time with close friends. 

MYERS-BRIGGS PERSONALITY TYPES

Basically, this test tries to measure our psychological preferences in how we view the world. Basically, it assumes that we all have preferences in how we understand and make decisions in the world, which “underlie our interests, needs, values, and motivation.”

So Jung theorized that there were two dichotomous pairs of cognitive functioning, being the “rational” (judging) functions of THINKING and FEELING, and the “irrational” (perceiving) functions of SENSING and INTUITION.  In the Myer’s Briggs test, there are four sets of dichotomies in which people prefer one or the other (in a scale, so that in order to be more of one side, you are less of the other). At any given time, one of these four functions is dominating over the rest, but all four functions are used at different times in different circumstances. These four sets are:

Extraversion (E)  -  (I) Introversion

          Sensing (S)  -  (N) Intuition

       Thinking (T)  -  (F) Feeling

           Judging (J)  -  (P) Perception

Each person has one side that is more preferred than the other, creating a profile of four letters, resulting in 16 total different combinations possible (for example: ESFP, INTJ, ENSJ, ISTJ, etc.). 

Using the system that will be basically outlined in the chart on the next page, people have been able to categorize personalities, from celebrities, to fictional characters, to people who have been dead hundreds of years. For your entertainment:

Free online test (don’t think too hard) 

http://www.celebritytypes.com/learn-your-type.php

Read more about each type here:

http://www.personalitypage.com/html/portraits.html

Once you know your code, find a list of famous people with the same type :O http://www.celebritytypes.com/estp.php

lol Trying to explain what each of these mean is tough, so I made a chart.

Attitudes: Basically how Jung first termed them, one meaning “outward-turning” and the other, “inward turning.” These affect how the other functions operate (i.e. Introvert Sensing different from Extrovert Sensing)	E – Extroversion  • Action oriented • Breadth of knowledge • Frequent interaction • Recharge/gain energy by spending time with people	I – Introversion • Thought oriented • Depth of knowledge • Substantial interaction • Gain energy by spending time alone
Perceiving Functions: (Information Gathering: how is new information understood/obtained?)	S – Sensing • Tangible, concrete information • In the present • Something understood by the 5 senses • Details, Facts;  • The DATA	N – Intuition • Abstract, theoretical information • Future possibilities • Discovered through larger context/patterns • Theories, principles;  • Implications manifested FROM the data
Judging Functions: (Rational decision making from our information) NOTE: Thinking category not necessarily “better at thinking”; Feeling not necessarily better emotional reactions	T – Thinking • Detached standpoint • REASON, logic, consistency • Based on a given set of rules • Truth > Tact	F – Feeling • Look at “from the inside”  • Empathy, balance, harmony, consensus,  • Fit the specific circumstances
Lifestyle: which of the J/P category functions do you prefer showing to the world?	J – Judging • Like to “have matters settled” (know where you stand) • The Thinking or Feeling function is what the world sees; TJ people seem logical, FJ types seem empathetic	P – Perception • Like to “keep decisions open” (go with the flow) • The Sensing/Intuition function is what we see; SP types appear concrete, NP seems abstract.

Other, More fluffy personality categories:

Horoscopes:

Western horoscopes have twelve zodiac signs based on the time of year (month/date) you were born. The twelve signs represent twelve basic personality types. The signs are also subdivided into fire and air (the two “masculine” types), and water and earth (the “feminine” elements), with common attributes in each subcategory. The twelve signs are further split into the three qualities, Cardinal, Mutable, and Fixed. A “ruling planet” of the solar system also rules each sign.

Rather than trying to explain each horoscope, I decided to just break down the elements and explain them – the various signs are then made up of a combination of this crap. 

Cardinal signs in western horoscopes have the qualities of being creative, restless, active, ambitious, and often have good leadership. They can be a bit domineering and forceful, but creative and spontaneous. Aries(fire), Cancer(water), Libra(air), Capricorn(earth).  

Mutable signs are adjustable, understanding, analyzing, and extroverted. It is between the Cardinal and Fixed signs, and can take on qualities of either of the two. Mutable signs are Gemini(air), Virgo(earth), Sagittarius(fire), and Pisces(water. 

Fixed signs tend to be stable, determined, persistent, and have depths. They tend to be stubborn, often achieve more than the other two. Can be opinionated, rigid, single minded. Taurus(earth), Leo(fire), Scorpio(water), Aquarius(air)

Fire – willpower – enthusiasm, faith, self expression

Air – Thoughts, ideas – communication, socialization

(Fire/Air Positive = self expressive. “masculine”)

Earth – Physical, tangible – practicality, caution, material world

Water – Feeling – emotion, empathy, sensitivity 

(Earth/Water Negative (self-containing) – “feminine”??)

btw that’s not a cue to make all the girl characters earth/water…

“the ideal person is the balance between male and female (ASPECTS/energies)

Chinese Zodiac horoscopes

Omg I don’t want to do this. >.>

So basically chinese horoscopes are also divided into 4 basic groups

1 – Action oriented, traits of intelligence, 

2 – Deep thinkers, conscious about attaining objectives

3 – Inclined towards freedom, strong sense of personal ego

4 – Peace lovers, mutual co-operation, sympathetic 

beyond that, there are too many, I don’t want to look at them. >.>

Dating Sims

School Days:

http://www.giantbomb.com/school-days/61-25383/ 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_Days_(visual_novel) 

This game is fucked up. I haven’t been able to play it since it’s not available but I have watched the endings (The bad ones). 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4dy0S6xYZ8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKsJunlsgFk

There are some gratuitous death scene and bad endings full with gore. I think it’s safe to assume that we will not be going in this direction. Besides the gratuitous death, suicides, and sex it is interesting because most of the game play acts out more like an anime than the standard static of most dating sims. This would be a nice touch to add if there is time to do so.

My Girlfriend is the President:

Have you ever wanted to know what the world would be like if it was run by 12 – 14 year old girls the boobs of 20 year olds because an Alien in the bridge of the Enterprise from the original Star Trek series crashes into the White House and kills the entire Japanese government (I couldn’t make this up if I tried). Well you have threat of a Nuclear Holocaust because the President of the United States, I don’t know her name because her character is just so interesting, and Vladimir Putina, guess what country she’s from, are fighting over the same guy (you). I haven’t gotten to the subplot of Emperor Palpatine crossed with one of those creepy Priests who molest children and a gay Nazi Scientist (kind of like the current Pope) who is your homeroom teacher that you have to fight for some reason. I haven’t played this game (do you really need a reason), but so far my faith in dating sims are dwindling. 

Hatoful Boyfriend:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatoful_Boyfriend

This game is certainly unusual, but in a better way than the last ones, also every other one too. This is perhaps the first dating sim I’ve played that doesn’t involve sex in the slightest. Basically you’re one of the last humans on Earth, and the only schoolgirl at a school for gifted birds, and birds have become the dominant species. The game unfolds like any other game, except instead of dating human women, you’re dating pigeons and a psycho partridge who wants to kill you, and may slightly be racist against humans. I can explain this game more, but this is a game you just have to play to believe. It’s a nice refresher to have a dating sim without sex, but if it did that would be weird. 

Sakura Wars:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/index.html?curid=22740883

To try to end on a game which does not revolve around sex or pigeons I had to go as far to this game which is actually an RPG with dating sims elements in it. Since it was rated T, there’s almost no nudity in it. The story revolves around a Naval Ensign as he uncovers and defeats a traveling troupe who tries to conquer America. It seems like a good story for what it could have easily devolved to and it actually brings story first. It doesn’t exactly fit with the game we’re trying to sell, but I honestly couldn’t find any dating sims that didn’t revolve around sex. 

/* Other game’s I’ve come across since the initial posting */

Mass Effect I, II, II/Dragon Age Origins, 2/any other RPG with romance option:

I know these games aren’t dating simulators, but the romance options in these games are practically a dating sim. For those of you who have not played any of these games, on your quest to gallivant around the game’s universe and save it from some force you pick up companions that you can try to woo. Although the end game for these Romance options end up with sexual conquest, the path you get from having your companion join you to the sexy scene in the bed is really of interest. If you cut out all the good stuff in these games and just leave in the romance quest as the entire game, then you basically have any of the dating sims I listed above. Where I believe these games have the advantage over the more traditional dating sims is that the options to woo your companion are, in a sense, more realistic. The topics of choice where you can complement them and small talk with them is really more realistic than the a series of pick-up lines followed by some compliment on their breasts to sex. The other factor that is more realistic is that the romance dialogue is not always effective and doesn’t result in the same conclusion. It all depends on how they think of you as a person based on your leadership style in the main quest. In fact, I believe that these games should make a better model to how a dating sim should work than an actual dating sim.

10 Ice Breakers for MEN

Introduce yourself

This almost goes without saying: If there's been no previous flirting, she's not going to know you exist until you make her aware you're there. Stride up to her casually and introduce yourself.

What to say:

"I'm Joe, happy to meet you."

"I'm Joe. I don't believe we've been introduced."

Rebecca’s Notes: Shake hands! Physical contact is the best subconscious ice breaker. 

Buy her a drink

Whether you're at a bar, restaurant or coffee shop, a great icebreaker involves the classic buying of the drink. Have the waiter send her another round of what she's already having (if you want to be more aggressive, you could send her your favorite drink) accompanied by a playful note, with your phone number included. Be sure to have the waiter let her know the source of the drink. On your way out, stop by her table and introduce yourself. It's a bold approach without being invasive.

What to say:

"Hope you enjoyed your drink."

"This is my favorite drink; thought you might enjoy it too."

Rebecca’s Notes:  If you are doing this at a bar, you might want to let her watch you order the drink, and have her get it straight from the bartender. It’s just safer. And to the girls: DON’T JUST TAKE DRINKS FROM GUYS YOU DON’T KNOW! 

Ask if she's single

Hey, you're going to want to know at some point, so why not get it over with at the outset? Keep in mind, however, that this is a bold icebreaker in any situation. If you're a handsome guy, the chances that she'll react positively are obviously better. If you're not, it's all the more reason to be friendly. In any case, this approach always demands that you be direct. You can bet that she will be; if she tells you that she's not single, or if she's not interested, you'll find out quickly. Asking a stranger if she's available immediately reveals your intentions and eliminates the chances of awkward misunderstandings.

What to say:

"Could I be so lucky that you're single?"

Rebecca’s Notes: I think that would be a really sweet thing to say haha  

Be blunt

Here's an icebreaker for those willing to be even more direct. In many cases, walking up to a woman and letting her know you're a take-charge kind of guy can be really appealing, and even a turn-on. She'll likely take your confidence as an indication that you're someone worth talking to.

What to say:

"I was trying to think of a clever pickup line, but then I realized there's no such thing. My name is Joe. What's yours?"

"Mind if I join you?"

Comment on your surroundings

Wherever you may find her, there will always be observations to make. Use it as conversational fodder. Look to your environment to induce a positive conversation and gently ease it toward common topics. This strategy needn't be restricted to the nightlife; if you notice a woman having a bad day at the office, say something that will make her forget her drudgery. This allows her to vent and capitalizes on the setting to get the conversation rolling. Be sure, however, that she's not seriously busy before you move in for the icebreaker. Pick your timing as carefully as you do your prey.

What to say:

"I've heard this DJ somewhere else; he sounds great."

"You look like you're having a great day." (Use with sarcasm if she looks bored or unhappy.)

Rebecca’s Notes: I think this is a great idea for when that “awkward silence” moment comes on and you’re stuck. Just immediately bring up something in the area to talk about. 

Ask an open-ended question

The hardest part about using an icebreaker is employing it to start a conversation that doesn't end 30 seconds after it's begun. Avoid this scenario by asking her a question that requires some kind of elaboration in the response, and not simply a "yes" or "no."

What to say:

"So, what do you do for fun?"

"So, how do you keep busy on weekends?"

Have her buy you a drink (see notes)

Throw a twist into your icebreaker by using a little gender role-reversal. If you find yourself in a hot situation at a bar or club, approach her and ham it up a little. It should surprise her in a mischievous way, and can be charming. Although riskier, this approach might also work in a cold situation.

What to say:

"I'll tell you what, how about I let you buy me a drink?"

"I've always felt that it's a bit chauvinistic to offer to buy a woman a drink. So I'll let you buy me one and promise to repay the favor later."

REBECCA”S NOTES: ^^^What??NO. I have never heard of this. I wouldn’t do it. I’m not saying a woman shouldn’t buy a guy a drink, but let her offer. I would never force someone to buy me a drink. You never know what someone’s money situation is like. Don’t do this.

Give a sincere compliment

It's no secret that women enjoy compliments. However, they can always detect when the compliment is an insincere one. No matter the situation, you should always be able to find something unique and legitimate to flatter your target with. It may be risque or a more tame form of praise, depending on her body language toward you. Be sure to follow through with a negative hit, so that she doesn't believe you're in awe over her.

What to say:

"It's funny that you noticed that... You're very perceptive."

"You have a nice, sugary laugh."

Rebecca’s Notes: They say girls like jerks but I’m not one of them. The negative hit definitely would not work for me, but maybe it would with other girls. 

Say "hello"

As obvious as it seems, this classic approach is often overlooked. Most women will say it right back, if only because it's common courtesy to do so. Their acknowledgment, however, opens the door to more conversation. It's a simple, no-nonsense approach, and just mustering the courage to greet a stranger may win you some respect. This approach works in virtually any setting.

What to say:

"Hi."

"Hello."

Rebecca’s notes: …well duh. 

Make her smile

Getting her to smile works magic for breaking the ice; women love a man who can make them laugh. Cracking a joke could prove the difference between picking up and striking out. Humor sets up a pleasant context and hints that you're a fun guy.

What to say:

"I bet I can make you smile in five seconds."

"Want to hear a really bad pickup line?"

Rebecca’s notes: Do this. 

Calm

A self-assured

Square posture

Self-esteem

Sense of self

Accepts compliments

Walk the walk

Self-effacing

Positive

See opportunities

Sociable

Ambitious

Risk taking

Accepting of others

Knows how to apologize

Truthful

Takes responsibility

Takes initiative

Understands his values

Proactive

Open minded

Gregarious

Free with compliments

Polite

Comfortable in his own skin

Encourages others

Doesnít jump to judgment

Works through his nerves

Optimism

Gives credit where credit is due

Communicative

Hayden's Psychology of dating research:

This is a good scale for a progress/status system:

http://generallythinking.com/sternberg%E2%80%99s-triangular-theory-of-love/

This is an odd one about how much words like "I" effect emotional depth/power in relationships.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/04/30/151550273/to-predict-dating-success-the-secrets-in-the-pronouns

Simple tips on dating in general:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-attraction-doctor/201205/dating-made-simple

Common Errors in dating:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/therapy-in-mind/200910/top-10-dating-mistakes

For future reference, a library of topics on dating psychology:

http://psychologyofdating.net/

An example article from the site above:

http://psychologyofdating.net/how-to-be-confident-around-women/