Research Methods

Research design helps us determine what we can conclude about the nature of the relationship(s) between or amongst variables of interest

Issues in Sex Research Sampling ▫Representativeness  Generalizability ▫Random ▫Probability Volunteer Bias

Issues in Sex Research Problems with Self-Reports ▫Social Desirability ▫Memory ▫Estimation Error ▫Wording of Questions Important Direct Observations: Sampling Bias? ▫(Masters and Johnson) Problems with Direct Observation ▫Expensive and time consuming Web-based Surveys

Data Collection Interview ▫Rapport ▫Flexible Questionnaires ▫Inexpensive ▫Anonymity CASI (Computer-Assisted Self-Interview)

Ethical Considerations Free and Informed Consent ▫Before participation ▫Purpose of study and procedure ▫Coercion ▫Discontinuation Protection From Harm ▫Physical ▫Psychological

Ethical Considerations Justice ▫Risks and Benefits ▫Tuskegee syphilis experiment Harms vs Benefits ▫Is the research justified?

Field Experiment Real Life Setting Less Control Over Extraneous Variables Random Assignment to Conditions Researcher Controls Independent Variable Researcher Determines Which Dependent Variable(s) To Measure

Quasi Experiment Researcher Has No Control Over Independent Variable Instead, Uses “Natural” Events As IV (e.g., Act Of Legislation, Hurricane/Blizzard, Social Movement, Etc.) Researcher Does Have Choice Of Dependent Variable(s) Random Selection of Research Participants “Experimental” Design

The Kinsey Report Sampling issues 100% sampling Obtain group cooperation (peer pressure) Not random groups (under/over representation) Highly regarded interviewing techniques “Have you ever masturbated?” vs “At what age did you begin to masturbate?” Major Concerns Generally high levels of sexual activity and homosexuality

NHSLS National Health and Social Life Survey (US) Gold standard Probability sample High response rate Low rates of homosexuality

France and Britain Telephone interviews Increases in opposite-sex partners Increases in consistent condom use

The Canada Youth, Sexual Health, and HIV/AIDS Study 4 Canadian universities Funded by Health Canada Excellent sampling Enough to report for provinces) Many youth engaging in sex at 14 23% boys; 19% girls in grade 9) 5-10% did not use birth control

Ontario First Nations AIDS and Healthy Lifestyle Survey Goal: assess knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to HIV infection among First Nations People in Ontario Face-to-face interviews Many had engaged in high-risk behaviors 60% did not use condoms Presents special challenges Interviewer should be same sex and ethnicity (rapport)

Canadian Survey of Gay and Bisexual Men Understand the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of men who have sex with men Recommendations about prevention of HIV/AIDS among gay and bisexual men Avoided terms gay and bisexual – sampling Excellent response rate Greater than one quarter still engaging in unprotected sex sometimes More knowledge about transmission of HIV associated with less unprotected sex

Masters and Johnson Physiology of sexual response ▫Behavior and physiological responses measured and observed in lab Assumed the processes they were studying were normative Artificial Coition ▫Clear plastic penis with sensors

Schultz, Andel, Sabelis, & Mooyaart, (1999)

Taking MR images of the male and female genitals during coitus is feasible During `missionary position' intercourse the penis has the shape of a boomerang During female sexual arousal without intercourse the uterus rises and the anterior vaginal wall lengthens The size of the uterus does not increase during sexual arousal

Humphries “Tea Room Trade” Acted as lookout Got licence plates and later interviewed under false pretence Serious ethical issues

Control of extraneous variables Manipulation of independent variable Measurement of dependent variable Random assignment of participants to conditions

Correlational vs Experimental Correlational Designs ▫Imply only an association between variables Experimental Designs ▫Can infer that changes in one variable cause changes in another variable.

Romer et al., 1997 Face-to-face vs computer interview  Participants: children 9-15 years  13 yr. old boys:  computer condition: 76% had sex  interview condition: 50% had sex  13 yr. old girls:  48%  25%

Romer et al., 1997 Conclusions? ▫More truthful with computer privacy OR ▫More daring in fibbing with computer ▫Can only say that the type of interview (computer or human) influenced the amount of reporting. ▫Manipulated IV caused changes in DV but what does it mean??

Meredith Queen’s IV: videos of a.bonobos having sex b.heterosexual sex c.both male and female homosexual sex d.man masturbating e.woman masturbating f.hunk walking naked on a beach g.beautiful woman exercising in the nude DV1: plethysmograph readings DV2: subjective ratings of arousal on a keypad

Meredith Chivers Results for men: Straights were aroused by hetero sex and female sex, masturbation and nude Gays were aroused by gay sex and male masturbating and nude Neither group responded to the bonobo video Their subjective ratings matched the physiological measures.

Meredith Chivers Results for women: Regardless of sexual orientation, physiological arousal to every sex clip, including the bonobos. Subjectively, keypad reports at odds with objective measures. Mind and genitals are not connected. So - women’s sexuality still largely not well understood.