Chapter 3 - Sex Research Methods Flashcards
1
Q
Qualitative Data
A
- Direct observation
- Interview
- Case study
- Content analysis
2
Q
Quantitative
A
- Correlational designs
- Experimental and quasi experimental designs
3
Q
Sexual psychophysiology
A
- Branch of sex research that examines the relationships between the physiological (eg. blood flow) and subjective (eg. how aroused one feels) components of sexual arousal
4
Q
Archival Data-Mining
A
- Sorting through records or pre-existing data
- A convenient way to find out about pas conditions or a specific personal history
- Weaknesses may include that records are incomplete or information is out of date
- Can compare it to new data and see how much we have changed
- Ex: Stats Can
5
Q
Quasi-Experiments
A
- Uses standardized procedures to evaluate the relationship between two variables but does not use random assignment
- Convenient to administer
- Cannot make cause and effect statements
6
Q
Descriptive research designs
A
- Valuable for generating research ideas and summarizing patterns of sexual attitudes and behaviour
7
Q
Kinsey’s Interview-Based Approach
A
- The first sex researcher to conduct large scale analytic studies of sexual behaviour in North America
- Conducted lots of interviews
- Based on both qualitative and quantitative methods
8
Q
Content Analysis
A
- Identified themes of meaning in a text or set of observations
- Findings are difficult to quantify
- Ex: Dual control model of sexuality
9
Q
Descriptive research designs
A
- Research designs that allow researchers to summarize patterns of sexual phenomena through observation and self repot
10
Q
Ecological validity
A
- The extent to which the behaviour that are observed in a research setting are representative of what actually happens in the real world
11
Q
Measures of genital response
A
- Measures an individual’s physiological response to sexual arousal
- Measures such things are genital and neurological responses
- Closely linked to the sexual response cycle developed by Masters and Johnson
- Part of the response cycle, vasocongestion or genital blood flow, can be measured by taking the genital temperature, which indicates arousal
12
Q
Measures of genital response in females
A
- Vaginal photo plethysmography
- Labial thermistor
13
Q
Measures of genital response for males and females
A
- Thermography
- Doppler ultrasonography
14
Q
Measures of genital response in males
A
- Penile volume plethysmography
- Penile photo-plethysmography
15
Q
Doppler ultrasonography
A
- Physiological method used to measure sexual arousal by detecting properties of blood flow in genital tissue
16
Q
Labial thermistor
A
- Physiological method used to measure sexual arousal by recording the surface temperature of labial skin
17
Q
Thermography
A
- Physiological method used to measure sexual arousal by using a heat-sensing camera to record the temperature of genital skin
18
Q
Laser Doppler Imaging
A
- Physiological method used to measure sexual arousal by using a low-power, infrared beam to measure blood perfusion in the external genital region
19
Q
Penile strain gauge
A
- Method used to assess sexual arousal by measuring increases in penile circumference
20
Q
Psychophysics
A
- Measures the relationship between physical stimuli and their perception
21
Q
Which sexual responses are affected by particular features of sexual stimulus between genders
A
- Women: Low cue specificity for gender cues
- Men: High cue specificity for gender cues
22
Q
Litmus test strip
A
- A test paper that can be used to detect vaginal wetness
- It detects a sexual response
23
Q
Quantitative sensory testing
A
- Assesses how an individual reacts to various sensations such as pressure, heat, or cold
- Genital sensory testing provides information about how the body processes sensation both at rest and during an aroused state
- Clinically very useful studying sexual pain disorders
24
Q
Limitations of fMRI and brain-imaging methods
A
- Poor temporal/spatial precision
- Anatomical locations are approximated only
- fMRI studies often have no control groups
- Depends heavily on researchers’ ability to interpret data correctly
25
Q
Why is studying animal sexuality important
A
- Describes normal/abnormal behaviour
- Clarifies cause and effect relationships
- Points to possible treatment models that could benefit humans
