1) How might our view of non-marital childbearing change if we were to consider cohabitation as something akin to marriage?
2) In what ways does the "average" cohabiter differ from the "average" non-cohabiter (i.e., people who marry without cohabiting)?
3) What is she talking about when she refers to "feedback loops"?
4) What are the two common explanations offered for the higher level of divorce among couples who cohabited prior to marriage? Which one makes more sense to you?
5) How has cohabitation been viewed in relation to marriage? Which of these comparisons seems most compelling to you?
6) How have researchers gone about trying to distinguish between these alternative views of cohabitation (in relation to marriage)? What have they found?
7) Do patterns of partner selection differ for marriage and cohabitation? If so, how?
8) Are there racial differences in patterns of cohabitation? If so, what are they?
9) What are some of the important changes taking place in the nature of cohabitation in recent years?