Ch 3: Sex Research Flashcards
what are some assumptions about being a sex researcher?
people assume your in the line of work because you have a stake in the topic
** Behaviours / Attitudes
accepting attitudes towards casual sex BUT P’s were not having greater levels of casual sex BUT P’s were using safer sex practices more consistently they did have casual sex (kids fuck, sex isn’t great so they have more sex but they wear condoms)
sampling terms?
population
sample
random sample
problems with sex research?
- volunteer bias
- controversy and ethics
- reliability and self-reports on sexual behaviour
what are the problems with Reliability on self reports on sexual behaviour? (there’s 5 of them)
- social desirability (lying about your body count to fit in)
- understanding terminology (ppl might not know the terms in sex research)
- bad memories (can’t ask an adult how many times they masturbated as a kid)
- distorting info (again lying about body count to fit in - social desirability)
- not knowing how to even talk about sex (how do you describe your sex life in a self report?)
why is volunteer bias a problem with sex research?
because people who volunteer probs have only positive attitude and good experience with sex compared to the people who do not volunteer
research method: SURVEYS
P’s complete questionnaires
research methods: DIRECT OBSERVATION
2 types:
-field research
-laboratory observation
what is field research
studying people in their natural environment
what is laboratory observation
observing peoples behaviour in a lab setting (masters and johnson)
research method: EXPERIMENTAL METHOD
researcher manipulates ind variable to assess the effect on the outcome dep variable.
sometimes the experimental group is compared to a control group
research method: CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
as one increase the other increases…
correlation does not imply causation (3rd variable)
research method: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
looks for common themes across individuals (example: interviews)
what was Bartell’s Swinging study about?
- Gathered hundreds of people who were interested in swinging
- swinging: a couple who is interested in having sex with one or more people
what was Humphreys Tearoom Trade study about?
- he stood as a lookup for gay men to hook up in public places
-he would get their license plates after and find their address and changed his appearance later on to go interview them in their homes
-results were that most men were married to women and had children
What was Masters and Johnsons study about in the lab observation?
directly observed, monitored and filmed responses to orgasms and arousals
how many orgasms did Masters and Johnsons measure?
over 10,000
what were some assessment methods that Masters & Johnsons used in the lab?
- Vaginal photoplethysmography
- measured concentration of blood in the clit = level of arousal - Penile Strain Gauge
- measured concentration of blood that makes a guy hard = level of arousal - Ulysses
- a clear Dildo with a camera in it to see what happens inside the vagina during arousal
the kinsey report (1950s ish)
they interviewed over 10,000 ppl about their sexual activities
also had a book that contributed to the sexual revolution
what was controversial about the kinsey report and his book?
he used part of his data in his book about childhood sexuality
the guy he got the data from suffered a rough childhood with sexual abuse (incest etc..)
he ended up not reporting this guy who clearly needed help and he ended up
