Research Methods in Sexuality Research Uniqueness of Sexuality Research Role of theory What can be observed Recorded Sensitive nature of sexuality research data collection method could profoundly affect results What role does culture play Diversity What does data mean What ethical factors need to be considered Participant Selection Sexually Active Frequency of sexual activity Type of sexual activity Level of commitment Sexual orientation Participant Selection Generalizability Who volunteers for sexuality studies What characteristics might they have that differ from those who don t volunteer Does financial compensation affect who volunteers Data Collection Participant comfort Data collection confidential Data collection anonymous Researcher sensitive to participants feelings concerns Special population e g sexual abuse dysfunction Same sex researcher preferable appearance of researcher Data Collection Human Studies Self report measures Direct observation measurement Focus Groups Animal Studies Data Collection Self report measures survey interview Is the measure validated On the population you are assessing Is the measure up to date Is the measure reliable Pros Able to assess wide range of sexual issues e g behaviors beliefs fantasies Not invasive Cons selection sampling bias self report bias Purposeful Distortion Social Desirability restricted by persons willingness to self disclose e g I have had anal sex affected by persons subjective interpretation e g I have sexual fantasies at least once a day what constitutes a sexual fantasy Accuracy of memory Ability to estimate correlational no cause and effect correlation b w depression low desire Direct observation at home or in a laboratory participant laboratory observations animal research observer bias Reliability would we get the same result if we observed it again Generalizability ecological validity Determining categories no overlap all areas covered Observer role is the participant or researcher the observer Ethical issues Direct observation at home example daily dairy record experiences after sexual activity e g intensity of orgasm pros more natural more generalizable greater ecological validity cons difficult to control variables e g time spent in foreplay Diaries structured vs unstructured Pros reduces memory biases ability to record behavior feeling immediately Cons attrition due to amount of time needed failure to complete the diary as instructed e g within time limit Direct Observation in the laboratory two rooms one for subject one for experimenter privacy minimize influence of sounds noises permits training standardization of study situation experimenters behavior could affect outcome stimulus erotica that is designed for male vs female audience auditory Visual Acceptable sexual behaviors characteristics of erotica e g women with plastic surgery standardization of erotica Pros able to obtain direct measures of sexual behavior e g sexual arousal orgasm Cons invasive not generalizable less ecological validity subject selection bias Psychophysiological data Sexual Arousal Men air volumetric plethysmograph strain gauge Rigiscan Plus monitor penile circumference and rigidity Rigiscan Plus Data Collection Women vaginal photoplethysmograph vaginal pulse amplitude VPA vaginal blood volume VBV labial temperature changes in oxygen pressure Psychophysiological data Orgasm Men Women latency to orgasm measure muscular contractions Focus Groups exploratory research e g developing questionnaires to explore areas not amenable to direct observation to gain understanding of a group with which there is relatively little information Animal studies Pros able to conduct experiments manipulate variables conduct studies that would be unethical in humans conduct studies that would be logistically difficult in humans conduct studies that would be expensive in humans test hypotheses in animals prior to humans Cons generalizability to humans Is the animal physiology similar Is the animal behavior comprable e g lordosis Characteristics of Sex Research Participants Are people willing to volunteer for sexuality studies Conclusion more invasive the study fewer volunteers Wolchik et al What is the difference between those who do do not volunteer for an intrusive study Conclusion different in sex related personality e g sex guilt but not different in general personality e g extraversion lying Farkas Sine Evans Characteristics of Research Participants Volunteered Men Women film 50 49 subjective arousal 57 44 physiological arousal forehead 66 41 physiological arousal clothed lap67 38 physiological arousal unclothed 30 13 genital gage 13 Wolchik 26 Interpreting Research Results Sampling Considerations Is a significant proportion of the population absent Were the participants selected based on sexual characteristics Did any subjects withdraw from the study What characteristics might they have that differ from those who did not withdraw Was there any measurement error such that the true mean and the sample mean might differ Threats to interpretation researchers beliefs measurement issues statistical results statistical vs meaningful differences misunderstanding the mean the degree to which it applies to individuals e g 28 day menstrual cycle relative importance of being average e g frequency of sexual activity vs sexual compatibility and satisfaction poor operational definitions e g measuring attempted vs completed sexual assault researchers beliefs measurement issues statistical results statistical vs meaningful differences misunderstanding the mean the degree to which it applies to individuals e g 28 day menstrual cycle relative importance of being average e g frequency of sexual activity vs sexual compatibility and satisfaction poor operational definitions e g measuring attempted vs completed sexual assault researchers language e g Have you had sex when you didn t want to because a man gave you alcohol or drugs regret vs rape consider assumptions e g woman as victims of sexual assault what about men Interpret results at a societal level