Module 2: Sex Research and Theory

Question 1

define scientific research

Answer 1

• approach used by researchers to acquire to knowledge and understanding about behavior and other phenomena of interest

Question 2

why are people who study human sexuality sometimes subjected to ridicule or sarcasm

Answer 2

human sexuality is a topic that many consider to be taboo

Question 3

what dimensions of health does human sexuality include

Answer 3

• all dimensions of health
• physical, social, emotional, intellectual, etc.

Question 4

are people generally honest in human sexuality surveys

Answer 4

people are generally honest if the survey is confidential

Question 5

list two professional organizations that study human sexuality

Answer 5

• the society for the scientific study of sexuality
• the kinsey institute for sex research

Question 6

what university is the kinsey institute for sex research apart of

Answer 6

indiana university

Question 7

what are the three theories of sexuality

Answer 7

• biological
• psychological
• sociological

Question 8

define biological theories of sexuality

Answer 8

• focused on the physical aspects of sexuality
• includes both physiological and evolutionary theories

Question 9

describe the physiological theory of sexuality

Answer 9

• biological
• explains how physiological processes affect and are affected by sexual behavior
• physical effects of attraction/orgasm, sexual response

Question 10

describe the evolutionary theory of sexuality

Answer 10

• biological
• explains human sexual behavior on the basis of human evolution
• Darwinism: selecting mates with the best characteristics to pass down

Question 11

describe the features that women are attracted to in a man based on the evolutionary theory of sexuality

Answer 11

• attributes that show that a partner can provide and protect
• height, muscles

Question 12

describe the features that men are attracted to in a woman based on the evolutionary theory of sexuality

Answer 12

• attributes that show a partner can take care of a home and have children
• breasts, broad hips

Question 13

define psychological theories of sexuality

Answer 13

• account for the influence of personality, learning, thoughts, and emotions on human sexuality
• includes psychoanalytic theory and classical conditioning

Question 14

describe the psychoanalytic theory of sexuality

Answer 14

• psychological
• emphasizes the role of unconscious processes in our lives
• id, ego, superego

Question 15

describe the terms id, ego, and superego

Answer 15

• id: pleasure seeking and basic needs (food, water, shelter, sex)
• ego: conscious thought, keeps id in check, holds personal values
• superego: conscience, supplies guilt when the id wins over the ego

Question 16

who developed the ideas of the id, ego, and superego

Answer 16

Sigmund Freud

Question 17

what human drive did Sigmund Freud think was most important

Answer 17

libido

Question 18

describe classical conditioning

Answer 18

• a process where a stimulus and a response that are not originally linked become connected
• Pavlov’s dogs

Question 19

what can be used to understand fetishes

Answer 19

classical conditioning

Question 20

define operant conidtioning

Answer 20

rewarding someone for performing a good behavior

Question 21

define sociological theories of sexuality

Answer 21

• explain how society and social groups affect and are affected by sexual attitudes and behaviors
• includes symbolic interaction theory

Question 22

describe the symbolic interaction theory of sexuality

Answer 22

• sociological
• explains how meanings, labels, and definitions that are learned through interactions affect our attitudes, self-concept, and behavior
• creating social scripts

Question 23

give examples of societal expectations

Answer 23

• how women/men should behave (social scripts)
• beauty standards
• trends

Question 24

do all societies have the same societal expectations

Answer 24

• no
• different cultures have different beliefs

Question 25

define social scripts

Answer 25

how we should/are expected to act around others based on societal expectations

Question 26

what are the general social scripts for men and women

Answer 26

- men: aggressive/assertive, less emotional - women: emotional, passive

Question 27

list the steps of conducting sex research

Answer 27

- identify a question or concern about a particular human or social issue (topic of interest) - review the literature and discover what other researchers have already learned about that issue - formulate a hypothesis and operationalize definitions - collect data - draw conclusions based on results

Question 28

define hypothesis

Answer 28

a prediction stated in a way that allows it to be tested

Question 29

describe operationalizing definitions

Answer 29

- explaining exactly what you mean with each term used in research - keeps everyone (researchers and participants) on the same page - limits data being skewed by different interpretations of terms

Question 30

list research methods

Answer 30

- survey research - field research - case study research - archival research

Question 31

describe survey research

Answer 31

- sample of people asked a series of questions about their behaviors, thoughts, and attitudes - can be face-to-face, by phone, by mail, using questionnaires, or on the internet - the sample should be representative of a larger population

Question 32

describe field research

Answer 32

- observation of naturally occurring behavior in settings in which they normally occur - participant observation or non-participant observation

Question 33

describe participant observation in field research

Answer 33

the researcher participates in the phenomenon being studied

Question 34

describe non-participant observation in field research

Answer 34

the researcher observes but does not participate in what is being studied

Question 35

describe case study research

Answer 35

an in-depth, detailed analysis of an individual, small group, relationship, or event

Question 36

describe archival research

Answer 36

- investigating the issue through the study of historical documents - longitudinal: through time - tracking trends

Question 37

are there ethical limitations to sex research

Answer 37

yes

Question 38

list the ethical considerations when performing sex research

Answer 38

- do no harm (physical and psychological) - ensure informed consent - ensure confidentiality - ensure anonymity - voluntary participation

Question 39

define informed consent

Answer 39

knowing exactly what you are getting into

Question 40

define confidentiality

Answer 40

not sharing information with others

Question 41

define anonymity

Answer 41

not asking for identifying info such as name, UIN, or phone number

Question 42

define voluntary participation

Answer 42

- participants decide if they want to participate in the study or not based on informed consent - no coercion

Question 43

describe the Tuskegee syphilis study

Answer 43

- study conducted by the US government on the progression of syphilis - studied the black population because they had little education on the matter - participants were told they had bad blood so many assumed they were being studied for sickle cell anemia; no informed consent - participants were barred from receiving treatment even though it was available - the study ran until 1972

Question 44

describe the creation of gynecological exams

Answer 44

- OBGYN named J. Marion Simms was the father of gynecological exams in the mid 1800s - he practiced exams on enslaved women; no voluntary participation

Question 45

define closed-ended questions

Answer 45

those which can be answered by a simple one-word/numerical response

Question 46

define open-ended questions

Answer 46

those which require more though and more than a simple one-word answer

Question 47

is this a closed or open ended question: what is your sex?

Answer 47

closed

Question 48

is this a closed or open ended question: how has your religion impacted your views of sex?

Answer 48

open

Question 49

is this a closed or open ended question: how many sexual partners have you had?

Answer 49

closed

Question 50

is this a closed or open ended question: what is your sexual orientation?

Answer 50

closed

Question 51

is this a closed or open ended question: what are your views on using contraceptives when sexually active?

Answer 51

open

Question 52

is this a closed or open ended question: do you use condoms?

Answer 52

closed

Question 53

is this a closed or open ended question: how would you define "safe sex"?

Answer 53

open

Question 54

what happens if your survey has too many questions (over 12)

Answer 54

people stop filling it out

Question 55

define double-barreled questions

Answer 55

- questions that contain two questions in one - the answers to each question may be different

Question 56

give an example of a double-barreled question and correct it

Answer 56

- double-barreled: I can talk to my friends and family about sexual health - corrected: I can talk to my friends about sexual health OR I can talk to my family about sexual health

Question 57

define biased or leading questions

Answer 57

- the researcher inputs their own bias into the questions - the question is looking for a specific answer

Question 58

give an example of a biased/leading question and correct it

Answer 58

- biased/leading question: relationships are hard. does talking with your partner make your relationship more likely to succeed? - corrected: talking opening with my partner makes my relationship more likely to succeed

Question 59

define a credible source

Answer 59

- free from bias - backed up with evidence - written by trustworthy author or organization

Question 60

what acronym can by used to identify credible sources

Answer 60

CRAAP

Question 61

what does CRAAP stand for

Answer 61

- currency - relevance - authority - accuracy - purpose

Question 62

define this part of CRAAP: currency

Answer 62

- is the source up to date - electronic sources: written in the last 3 years

Question 63

where can you usually find the date an online article was written

Answer 63

at the bottom of the web page

Question 64

define this part of CRAAP: relevance

Answer 64

- is the source relevant to your research - does it give the information you need for your research

Question 65

define this part of CRAAP: authority

Answer 65

- where is the source published - who is the author and are they considered reputable and trustworthy in their field

Question 66

which type of websites generally fulfill the authority requirement of CRAAP

Answer 66

- .edu - .gov - .org

Question 67

define this part of CRAAP: accuracy

Answer 67

- is the source supported by evidence - are the claims cited correctly

Question 68

define this part of CRAAP: purpose

Answer 68

- what was the motive behind publishing this source - disseminate information to increase knowledge (good) or further political agenda/get you click on a site for money (bad)