Human Sexuality Chapter 2 – Flashcards

scientific study of sexuality.

understanding, predicting, and controlling or influencing the events that are the subject matter of their respective fields.

For example: a pharmacologist who knows how blood pressure medications interfere with sexual functioning can use this knowledge to predict what dosage of a drug could be tolerated by a patient with a particular health condition without experiencing impaired sexual functioning. Similarly, a psychologist who knows something about the way certain behavior patterns influence the quality of couples' interactions can help a couple predict whether they will have a happy marriage.

To note that it would be inaccurate to suggest that all knowledge acquired through research leads directly to behavior control. Nevertheless, sexologists have been able to influence, to some degree, a large body of phenomena. For example, understanding how adolescents make decisions about contraceptive use has resulted in the development of school- based sex-education programs, many of which are linked to family planning clinic services. These innovative programs have often resulted in positive behavioral changes, such as increased contraceptive use among sexually active teenagers.

it's an infant science that originated largely in the 20th century.

the 1st researcher to conduct an extensive general survey of American Sexual Behaviors, took place only in the late 1940's and early 1950's.

case study, the survey, direct observation

examines either a single subject or a small group of subjects individually and in depth. Data is gathered using a variety of means: direction observation, questionnaires, testing, and even experimentation. ex: sex offenders, incest victims, transsexuals, sex workers has been learned from case studies. Disadvs: limited generalizability of findings, accuracy of data limited by falibility of human memory, not suitable for many kinds of research questions.

data pertaining to sexual attitudes and behaviors derived from relatively large groups of people by means of questionnaires or interviews. -cheap+ quick method, large amounts of data. - can obtain data from more people than is practical to study in the lab or case studies. Disavds- nonresponse, demographic bias, inaccurate info.

a relatively small group to draw inferences or conclusions about a much larger group with a particular characteristic (called a target population). Examples of target populations are married adults and high school students.

ex: if you wanted to obtain information about the sexual practices of American Married couples in their later years, your population would include all married couple in the United States over a given age, 65. Clearly, it would be impossible to question everyone in this group. Sex researchers resolve this problem by obtaining data from a relatively small sample of the target population.

a type of limited sample that provides an accurate representation of a larger target population of interest.

is selected from a larger population, using randomization procedures.

researchers observe and record responses of participating subjects. Advs: virtually eliminates the possibility of data falsification, behavioral record can be kept indefinitely on videotapes or films. Disadvs: subjects behaviors can be influenced by presence of observer(s) or the artificial nature of the environment where observations are made.

researcher manipulates a set of conditions, or variables, and observes the effect of the manipulation on subjects' behavior. Advs: provides a controlled environment for managing relevant variables. suited to discovering causal relationships between variables. Disadvs: artificiality of laboratory settings can adversely influence or bias subjects' responses.

tend to be quicker and cheaper to administer. Also, because filling out a form affords greater anonymity than facing an interviewer, subjects might be considerably more likely to answer questions honestly, with minimal distortion. Also corrects for researcher bias..these can be evaluated objectively. The format is more flexible. If a particular question is confusing at least it can be explained unlike the other one. Also the interviewers have the option of varying the sequence of questions if it seems appropriate for a particular respondent. Lastly, skillful interviewers can establish excellent rapport with subjects, and the resulting sense of trust may produce more revealing responses than is possible with paper-and-pencil or computerized questionnaires.

the refusal to participate in a research study, is a common problem that consistently plagues sex survey research.

No one has ever conducted a major sex survey in which 100% of the selected subjects voluntarily participated. studies strongly suggest that volunteers for sex research are more sexually experienced and hold more positive attitudes toward sexuality and sex research than do non volunteers. women are less likely than men to volunteer for sex research. accuracy of subject's responses: some people may fabricate the truth, may not remember the first time they masturbated or their 1st orgasm, may hide things they're ashamed of or that are painful, may feel pressure to minimize their experiences regarding behaviors for which strong taboo's exist, such as incest, homosexuality, and masturbation. In other cases, people can purposely inflate their experience, perhaps out of a desire to appear more liberal, experienced, or proficient. Third Problem: Demographic Bias.

A kind of sampling bias in which certain segments of society (such as white, middle- class, white-collar workers) are disproportionately represented in a study population.

the bias introduced into research study results because of participants' willingness to respond. People who volunteer to participate may be the ones who are he most eager to share their experiences, who have explored a wide range of activities, or who feel most comfortable with their sexuality. Or it may be that the most experienced people are those who are least willing to respond because they feel that their behaviors are atypical or extreme. Ex: studies strongly suggest that volunteers for sex research are more sexually experienced and hold more positive attitudes toward sexuality and sex research than do non volunteers.

these studies are the best known and most widely cited examples of survey research. - published 2 large volumes: male sexuality (in 1948) and Female Sexuality (in 1953). the aim was to determine patterns of sexual behavior in American Males and Females. Subject Populations: However, consisted of 5,300 white males and 5,940 white females. Had a disproportionately greater number of better-educated, city-dwelling Protestants, whereas older people, rural dwellers, and those with less education were underrepresented. African Americans and other racial minorities were completely omitted from the sample. All were volunteers. **And in no way can Kinsey's study populations be viewed as a representative sample of the American Population.** Although published 50 years ago, still the data is relevant today. Time has gone by but still some things remain true: sexual behavior is influenced by educational level and that heterosexuality or homosexuality is often not an all or none proposition. However, other areas such as coital rates among unmarried people are more influenced by changing societal norms..so it's a little less predictive of contemporary practices in these areas.

aim was to study the sexual attitudes and practices of American adults. Research team: Edward Laumann and his colleagues. Had federal funding, but then it fell through. They got money from private foundations and had 3,432 respondents in their survey. Unlike Kinsey, they looked at white americans, african americans, and hispanic americans, as well as other racial groups (small in number- but to get more info). Trained professionals and did a questionnaire. This study provided the most comprehensive information about sexual behavior in America since Kinsey's Research. Since Laumann and his colleagues used far better sampling techniques than did the Kinsey group, the NHSLS study is a representative U.S. sex survey that reliably reflects the sexual practices of the general U.S. adult population in the 1990's. *

In 2010 one of the largest nationally representative investigations of sexual health and behaviors to date was released by Indiana University's Center for sexual Health Promotion. Conducted by Michale Reece, et al. reported on data reflecting the sexual experiences of 5,865 adolescents and adults age 14 to 94. Internet based-randomly selected participants..residential addresses in the U.S. Postal Service's file includes approx. 98% of all U.S. households. focused on- 40 combinations of sexual acts engaged in during sexual events, patterns of condom use, and the % of subjects who participated in same-sex encounters.

used direct observation in a lab setting to learn about physiological changes during sexual arousal. Human Sexual Response Cycle. (382 women, 312 men). used a number of techniques to record physiological sexual responses such as: the use of photographic equipment and instruments to measure and record muscular and vascular changes throughout the body. As well as ingenious measurement devices to record changes in sex organs. As well, recorded responses to a variety of stimulus situations in their lab: masturbation, coitus with a partner, and stimulation of the breasts alone. As well as extensive interviews were done.

to observe, record, and map areas of the human brain that are activated when individuals are exposed to visual erotica. Also has been used to provide precise measurements of genital changes during sexual arousal.

-seeing and measuring sexual behavior firsthand is clearly superior to relying on subjective reports of past experiences. -virtually eliminates the possibility of data falsification through memory deficits, boastful inflation, or guilt-induced repression. -Such behaviors can be kept indefinitely on videotape or film. However then, a major problem lies in the often unanswerable question of just how much a subject's behavior is influenced by the presence of even the most discreet observer. No matter what device you use, the subject is still aware that he or she is being observed. Their findings are still applied in many areas- including infertility counseling, conception control, sex therapy, and sex education-with beneficial results.

Computer Assisted Self- Interview technology for surveying children, adolescents, and adults has provided an excellent tool for overcoming these barriers to successful sex research. literacy problems and the potentially negative effect of a human interviewer are minimized. Two varieties of CASI technology: Video CASI technology- viewing questions on a monitor and entering answers by pressing labeled keys on the keyboard. Audio CASI- more advanced in which respondents listen through headphones to questions and then enter their answers by keystrokes. Also has voice- quality sound. effective for collecting sensitive information on a variety of topics.

a penile stain gauge: placed around the base of the penis, checks for slightest changes in penis size and records every pulse of blood into the penis. penile plethymograph or a metal- band gauge, vaginal and rectal myographs and a vaginal photoplethysmograph.

cyberspace questionnaires are considerably cheaper than traditional paper and pencil questionnaires- they eliminate printing costs, decrease the need for data collection staff, and do not require distribution and collection costs, such as postage and envelopes. They also save time. People also feel more comfortable: they are less influenced by social desirability and more inclined to share info- perhaps because they believe there information is more anonymous and secure. A limitless pool of potential study respondents across geographical and cultural boundaries. Sig. disadvantage: sample- selection bias. Internet users tend to be younger, better educated, and more affluent than nonusers. privacy issues, low response rates, multiple survey submissions.

1. what are the researcher's credentials? Are the investigators professionally trained? 2. Through what type of media were the results published: reputable scientific journals, scholarly textbooks, etc. 3. what approach or type of research method was used, and were proper scientific procedures adhered to? 4. Were a sufficient number of subjects used, and is there any reason to suspect bias in the selection method? Also compare the results with those of other reputable studies. Etc.