Sex Research How do we learn new information about sex? © Robert J. Atkins, Ph.D.

How do we do sex research?  Sexology = The study of sex  Case studies  Surveys  Direct observation  Experimental studies

How can we use case Studies?  What is a case study?  Male lost penis at circumcision - Joan / John  Transsexuals  Incest victims (survivors)  Sex offenders

How can we use surveys?  What are surveys?  Source of most of our scientific information about sexuality  Alfred Kinsey First extensive survey interviews of American sexual behavior

What were Kinsey’s Publications? Sexual Behavior in the Human Male Sexual Behavior in the Human Female

Do you remember?  What is Sexology?  What four methods can be used to study sex?  What is a case study?  What is the source of most of our scientific information about sexuality?  What were the Kinsey publications?

Who did direct observation studies?  Masters & Johnson Studied the sexual response cycle & physiological responses

Masters & Johnson’s Equipment  Penile strain gauge(Penile Plethysmograph)  Vaginal photoplethysmograph Measures increased vaginal blood volume Color changes

What did Masters & Johnson Publish?  Human Sexual Response  Human Sexual Inadequacy

Do you remember?  Who did direct observation studies?  What were the Masters & Johnson’s publications?  What equipment did Masters and Johnson use? What did this equipment measure? How did it work?

What can experimental studies do that others can not?  They can make cause and effect conclusions.  E.g. Movies in sex therapy

Who do we study?  Population  Random sample  What is sample bias? Demographic bias Self-selection bias  Differences between those who volunteer and those who do not  “sample” = not representative  E.g. Radio talk show listeners

Do you remember?  What can experiments do that other methods can not?  What is the difference between a population and a sample?  What is self selection bias? Can you give an example?  What is demographic bias?

What types of variables are there?  Independent variable The one we can control  Dependent variable The observed outcome

Can you find and measure the variables?  Example Rapists & non-rapists listen to taped descriptions of rape and consensual sex Do these recordings affect one more than the other? How do we measure the effect of the recordings? What is the independent variable? What is the dependent variable?

What were the variables?  Independent variable The one we can control  Taped descriptions  Dependent variable The observed outcome Penile tumescence  Penile strain gauge

What are the effects of violent pornography?  Surveys of men exposed to violent pornography indicated: Reduced sensitivity to rape victims Increased tolerance of sexually aggressive behavior A grater acceptance of the myth that women want to be raped

Can you find and measure the variables?  High school condom distribution & effect on pregnancies Freely available VS from nurse Independent variable? Dependent variable?

Do you remember?  What are the effects of violent pornography?  What types of variables are there?  How do these types of variables differ?