Chapter 3 Flashcards
Difficulties with sex research
finding participants, having a representative sample, researcher bias, defining normal behaviour,
Is the average representative of what is normal?
no
Primary issue of studying female sexual responses
In early research, female sexual responses were generalized from male responses and male only studies
The idea that heterosexual relationships is the only acceptable sexual orientation
heteronormativity
Issues with the heteronormativity in sex research
limits participants, denies individuals’ experiences, conforms to gender roles, establishes that heterosexual relationships are the “normal” group, causes unrepresentative samples
The rate of new cases of interest in a defined population
incidence
The estimate of the proportion of a population with the condition of interest
prevalence
collecting data through questionnaires
surveys
Important findings from Alfred Kinsey’s survey
- Homosexual and heterosexual behaviour is on a continuum
- People’s behaviour around sex are not as conservative as we think
Criticism of Kinsey’s work
non-randoms sampling, oversampling of white people, questions were too leading
Observing the behaviour…
observational research
Tools for observational research
electronic filming, sex surrogate partners, sex therapy
Why was masters and johnsons’ research important.
Created tools to measure physical sexual responses in an empirical way, created the current definition of normal sexual behaviour
Critiques of masters and johnsons research
orgasm as the goal of sex, defined heterosexual relationships as normal, dominantly white participants, overemphasizing physical responses, considered unethical and voyeuristic
Measuring blood flow to the genitals through constriction of a tool
vasocongentestion
