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Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-2 A Scientific Approach to Human Sexuality Empirical Derived from or based on observation and experimentation
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-3 A Scientific Approach to Human Sexuality The Scientific Method Formulating a research question Framing the research question in the form of a hypothesis Testing the hypothesis (continued)
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-4 A Scientific Approach to Human Sexuality The Scientific Method (continued) Hypothesis Precise prediction about behaviour Testing the hypothesis Drawing conclusions
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-5 A Scientific Approach to Human Sexuality Goals and methods of the science of human sexuality Description Variables Quantities or qualities that vary or may vary Demographic variables Concerning vital statistics (continued)
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-6 A Scientific Approach to Human Sexuality Goals and methods of the science of human sexuality (continued) Explanation Prediction Control (continued)
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-7 A Scientific Approach to Human Sexuality Goals and methods of the science of human sexuality (continued) Physiological measures of sexual arousal vasocongestion Penile strain gauge Measures changes in the circumference of the penis (continued)
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-8 A Scientific Approach to Human Sexuality Goals and methods of the science of human sexuality (continued) Vaginal photoplethysmograph Measures vasocongestion of the vaginal walls
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-9 Operational Definitions Operational definition Definition of a construct or variable in terms of the methods used to measure it
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-10 Populations and Samples Population Complete group of organisms or events Sample Part of a population Representative sample (continued)
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-11 Populations and Samples (continued) Generalize To go from the particular to the general
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-12 Populations and Samples Sampling Methods Random sample Every member of a population has an equal chance of participating (continued)
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-13 Populations and Samples Sampling methods (continued) Stratified random sample Known subgroups in a population are represented in proportion to their numbers in the population (continued)
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-14 Populations and Samples Sampling Method (continued) Volunteer bias Slanting of research data caused by the characteristics of the individuals who volunteer
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-15 Methods of Observation Case-study method Carefully drawn, in-depth biography of an individual or a small group of individuals
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-16 Methods of Observation Survey method Detailed study of a sample obtained by interviews and questionnaires (continued)
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-17 Methods of Observation Survey method (continued) Kinsey reports reliability incidence validity NHSLS study (continued)
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-18 Methods of Observation Survey method (continued) Canadian media-sponsored surveys Maclean’s Magazine survey Compas survey Magazine surveys of readers Reliability of the survey method (continued)
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-19 Methods of Observation Survey method (continued) Limitations of the survey method Volunteer bias May not accurately reflect the population at large Faulty estimation People may recall behaviours inaccurately or misrepresent it (continued)
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-20 Methods of Observation Survey method (continued) Limitations of the survey method (continued) Social-desirability response bias Response bias to questionnaire or interview Differences in meanings of terms A word or phrase may mean different things to different people
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-21 Methods of Observation Naturalistic-observation method Organisms are observed in their natural environments (continued)
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-22 Methods of Observation Naturalistic-observation method (continued) Ethnographic-observation method Describes specific cultures, especially preliterate societies Participant-observation method Observers interact with the people they study as they collect data (continued)
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-23 Methods of Observation Naturalistic-observation method (continued) Laboratory-observation method Masters and Johnson
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-24 Correlational Method Correlation Statistical measure of the relationship between two variables Correlational coefficient Statistic that expresses the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-25 Correlational Method
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-26 Limitations of the Correlational Method Correlation is NOT causation
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-27 Experimental Method Experiment Scientific method that seeks to confirm cause-and-effect relationships by manipulating variables Treatment Intervention that is administered to participants
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-28 Aspects of the Experimental Method Independent variable Condition that is manipulated so that its effects can be observed Dependent variable Measured results of an experiment Believed to be a function of the independent variables (continued)
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-29 Aspects of the Experimental Method (continued) Experimental group Group of study participants who receive a treatment Control group Group of study participants who do not receive the experimental treatment (continued)
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-30 Aspects of the Experimental Method (continued) Why is random assignment important? Selection factor Bias that may operate in research when people are allowed to determine whether they will receive a treatment (continued)
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-31 Aspects of the Experimental Method (continued) Sexual behaviour of diverse populations Ontario First Nations Gay and bisexual men Sex workers
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-32 Ethics in Sex Research Exposing participants to harm Confidentiality Informed consent Agreement to participate in research Use of deception
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada2-33 End of Chapter 2