Here are some starters for our Saturday talk:

"Dr Gavin, with Dr Adrian Scott of the University of Bath and Dr Jill Duffield of the University of the West of England, carried out an online survey of 229 people, aged 18 to 65, who have used UK internet dating sites, asking them about their main relationship that they had had online. Dr Gavin's paper will be read at an international psychology conference next month. The research showed that:

- 94 per cent of those surveyed saw their 'e-partner' again after first meeting them, and the relationships lasted for an average of at least seven months, with 18 per cent of them lasting over a year.

- men online were significantly more likely to be committed to the relationship than women and were more dependent on their 'e-partner'.

- the more the couple engaged in simultaneous online chat before meeting rather than simply e-mailing one another, the more they were found to depend on one another emotionally and the more they understood one another.

- those who exchanged gifts before meeting had a more committed and deeper relationship.

- the more the couple talked on the telephone before they met, the deeper the relationship.