Sex Research

1. Sex Research Methods and Concerns

2. sexology • The study of sexuality • Goal – to understand, predict, and control sexual behavior

3. Control? • Is it a good thing to control sexual behavior? • Yes – we need to decrease unwanted pregnancies and STD’s • Uncertain – Should we choose our children’s sex? Should we change orientations?

4. Non-experimental methods • Often used • Convenient • Frequently cost-effective • But tell us nothing about causation

5. The case study • An intensive study of an individual or a small group • Advantages – flexible comprehensive

6. Case study limits • Difficulty generalizing results from such a small sample • Subject to the failings of memory • Sometimes, completely unsuitable

7. surveys • A sample of people are questioned about their behavior and attitudes • Many advantages: relatively inexpensive quick lots of people & data both anonymity and rapport

8. The all-important sample • Sample – interviewing a relatively small group to draw conclusions about a much larger one • Representative – all subgroups within the population of interest in their proper proportions • Random – everyone in population has equal chance

9. Sampling gone awry • Is it truly representative? Not if only 15% reply Miss out on key sub-groups • The self-selection dilemma – some participants are too eager, these tend to be more experienced and comfortable with sex

10. Other Survey Hazards • Are the responses accurate? vulnerable to exaggeration, memory lapses, and socially desirable responses • Demographics – most who respond are: too educated mostly white-collar • Missing minorities are often the most interesting

11. Also, … • Ambiguous, misleading questions will ruin any survey, no matter how well-conceived. • Should the survey be conducted through a written questionnaire or an interview? • Or should both be utilized?

12. Surveys that mattered • Kinsey Males (1948) 5,300 – participated Females (1953) 5,940 “ “ • Obvious flaws All white too many highly educated urban WASPs

13. Kinsey’s contribution • Despite shortcomings, still relevant • Demonstrated that sexual behavior is influenced by education and the undeniable presence of bisexuality • Also provided a baseline against which all subsequent investigations could be prepared

14. The National Health and Social Life Survey • A response to two compelling challenges: 1) The Aid’s crisis of the late 80’s, and 2) A complete lack of information regarding current sexual practices • Initial plans called for a huge, truly representative sample of 20,000 • But in ’91 federal funding was yanked

15. A Methodological Triumph • Undaunted, its proponents lined up private funding, to survey a truly representative sample of 4,369 • An amazing response rate of 79% • Adequately covered whites, African- Americans and Hispanics • Administered by 220 carefully trained interviewers • Well designed, internally consistent

16. Survey Says! Americans are: 1) content with their love lives, 2) less sexually active than anticipated, and 3) quite conservative

17. Sexual Violence Survey • Is there a connection between watching violent porn and sexual coercion? • 222 male nonoffenders were surveyed about porn viewing preferences • Within the last year, 81% had viewed nonviolent porn • 35% had watched sexually violent porn • The latter were more likely to use force/rape

18. Meta-Surveys • Several surveys reveal that exposure to violent (sexual) media tends to: 1) increase tolerance for violence, 2) cause some to think that women want to be raped, 3) decrease sensitivity to victims, & 4) for some, to increase the probability of rape

19. Alcohol & sexual response • Do a few drinks increase or impair sexual responsivity? • 20,000 survey participants • 60% said, YES! • Women were even more convinced • But did they really remember?

20. Direct observation • A research design in which trained reporters watch and record responses • Used most effectively byMasters & Johnson (1966)

21. Human Sexual Response • Influential and respected • Watched sexual behavior in the laboratory and recorded the relevant physiological responses • Good numbers - 382 women and 312 men • A non-representative sample, but with physiological measures, it might not matter

22. Human sexual response ii • Innovative techniques • Thorough follow-up interviews • Non-subjective, quantifiable • No worries about memory deficits • But the participants knew they were being watched?!

23. Experimental methods • Present participants with certain events/stimuli under controlled conditions that allow for reliable measurement of their reactions • This control allows us to make inferences regarding causation • With this ingredient, we can control behavior

24. basics • The Independent Variable – the factor controlled by the researcher For example, 6 hours of watching sexually violent videos • The Dependent Variable – resulting behavior after the use of the independent variable as measured by the researcher For example, responses to questionnaire

25. An actual experiment • Hypothesis – viewing sexually violent media causes tolerance of and an increase in aggressive and assaultive behavior

26. Study 1 • Method • 271 men • Half watch films in which women are victimized, but later “fall” for the abuser • Others watch nonviolent movies

27. Results • When questioned days later, men who had watched the violent film were much more tolerant of sexual violence against women

28. Other studies • Rapists exposed to sexually violent and abusive films became sexually aroused • Nonrapists did not • Both groups aroused by consensual sex

29. Experiments on Alcohol and Sex • Reveal that arousal is decreased by drinking • Also, the more consumed the greater the decrease • Holds for both men and women • Varies greatly from survey self reports • Lab setting influence results?

30. Sexology Technology • Electronic measures of arousal – much more accurate than self reports • Penile strain gauge – a device which measures changes in the circumference of the penis • Very sensitive • Used with sex offenders

31. And for women … • The vaginal photoplethysmograph – a device which measures increases in vaginal blood flow • photosensitive

32. Also • Brain imagining studies • reveal that hand holding reduces neural activity in brain areas linked to the anticipation of threats • Show that bisexuals may not be what we thought

33. Computer Assisted Self-Interview • A “CASI” • Overcomes literacy and social problems • Simply listen, point and click • All in privacy • Has worked well with teenagers

34. Cyber Sexology • Using the internet to collect sex-related data • Many advantages • Significant concerns

35. Advantages • Cheap – by usually 20-80% less staff, paper, postage • Participants feel safer • Flexible, easy to modify • Access to vast numbers of participants • Some virtually impossible otherwise • Greater accuracy – “help” menus standardization

36. Drawbacks • Sampling bias – “the digital divide” participants tend to be younger, more educated and affluent, male but every year this factor recedes • Ethical concerns – participants often recruited through unsolicited emails true anonymity is illusory