Deck 2: Research Methods

Question 1

A researcher can generalize the results of her survey to the population of interest if

A)her response rate is over 70%.
B)her sample represents the target population.
C)she used randomized sampling.
D)low levels of volunteer bias were evident.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

An empirical approach to the study of human sexuality is based on

A)research evidence.
B)a combination of intuition and concrete evidence.
C)intuition.
D)subjective evidence.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

A group of researchers uses the Canada Census to determine that 51% of the Canadians are female. In their study of sexual practices in Canada, they make sure that 51% of their subjects are female. The researchers utilized a(n)

A)target population of females.
B)stratified random sample of females.
C)convenience sample of females.
D)adjusted random sample of females.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

When subgroups in a sample are represented in proportion to their membership in the population, the sample is called a(n)

A)stratified random sample.
B)probability sample.
C)convenience sample.
D)adjusted random sample.

Question 5

Which of the following would not be considered a psychological variable?

A)anxiety about becoming sexually active
B)the stiffness of a man's erection after consuming alcohol
C)self-confidence in one's ability to sexually please a partner
D)the level of happiness a woman reports following orgasm

Question 6

All of the following are examples of demographic variables except

A)age.
B)religious background.
C)level of education.
D)food preferences.

Question 7

As a survey sample, the readers of Glamour magazine are likely to be

A)less educated than the average person.
B)biased.
C)overly compliant.
D)non-compliant.

Question 8

To study frequency of intercourse after age 65, the publishers of 65 Plus magazine include a survey in their January issue. Twenty-five percent of the subscribers return the survey. What should the publishers tell their readers about this survey?

A)The results can be generalized to the complete readership of 65 Plus.
B)The results cannot be generalized to the adult population over 65.
C)The response rate was high enough to represent the adult population over age 65.
D)The sample can be adjusted so that it represents a random sample of adults over age 65.

Question 9

The first step in the scientific method is

A)establishing a hypothesis.
B)testing a hypothesis.
C)formulating a research question.
D)designing a method.

Question 10

A method of objectively measuring sexual arousal in men is to

A)ask men to rate their level of arousal.
B)interview men about their level of arousal.
C)measure genital engorgement with a penile strain gauge.
D)determine the number of times men engage in sexual activity.

Question 11

The Statistics Canada one- and two-year cycle Canadian Community Health Survey is of interest to sexuality researchers because it collects

A)data similar to that collected by Kinsey.
B)recurring data on rates of common male and female sexual dysfunctions.
C)recurring data on age of first intercourse and condom use at last intercourse.
D)the only data available on the safer sex practices of gay and lesbian Canadians.

Question 12

Convenience samples often consist of

A)older people from several ethnic groups.
B)lower-class, urban, black people.
C)white, middle-class, college students.
D)middle-class, rural, middle-aged adults.

Question 13

Before developing a hypothesis, a researcher should

A)draw some conclusions.
B)formulate a research question.
C)test the hypothesis.
D)conduct the experiment.

Question 14

A vaginal photoplethysmograph works by measuring

A)the length of the vagina.
B)how much the vagina expands.
C)how much light is reflected from vaginal walls.
D)how much the clitoris expands.

Question 15

From a scientific perspective, in order to understand a sexual behaviour, we must first be able to

A)observe it directly.
B)visualize it discreetly.
C)dissect it.
D)describe it.

Question 16

Which of the following is not one of the four goals of science?

A)explain
B)coerce
C)describe
D)predict

Question 17

A hypothesis is

A)a theory that is based on available information.
B)a precise prediction about behaviour that is often derived from theory and is tested through research.
C)a research question formulated through observation of daily occurrence.
D)a research question tested through experimentation.

Question 18

A representative sample consists of individuals who accurately represent

A)diverse populations.
B)the different mainstream religions.
C)all age groups equally.
D)the population of interest.

Question 19

A hypothesis is a(n)

A)established theory.
B)prediction about behaviour.
C)question.
D)statement of fact.

Question 20

Critical thinking and the scientific approach are similar in that they

A)share the same theories.
B)make assumptions.
C)embrace skepticism.
D)share the same questions.

Question 21

Why do researchers usually not choose to measure populations?

A)The data are not as reliable as data from samples.
B)Populations are not representative of selected samples.
C)Data from populations can be skewed by deviant subjects.
D)It is virtually impossible to measure populations.

Question 22

In reliability studies done eighteen months after his original surveys, Kinsey found

A)significant changes in the sexual behaviour of his subjects.
B)consistency in the frequency of sexual behaviour reported by his subjects.
C)consistency in the incidence of sexual behaviour reported by his subjects.
D)inconsistencies in the incidence of sexual behaviour reported by subjects.

Question 23

Kinsey chose not to try to obtain a random sample because he felt

A)it was important to identify the best subjects to get the most relevant data.
B)it would be impossible to randomize the sample of this type.
C)a high refusal rate would wreck the chances of accurately representing the general population.
D)every person who volunteered for the study had an important contribution.

Question 24

Most national studies of sexual behaviour in Canada have

A)used a focus group methodology.
B)not examined contraceptive use.
C)adequately sampled sexual minorities.
D)been limited in scope.

Question 25

Which of the following groups were under-represented in Kinsey's studies?

A)gays, lesbians, and urban populations
B)the elderly, the upper class, and ethnic populations
C)the upper class, ethnic minorities, and homosexuals
D)ethnic minorities and rural populations

Question 26

A researcher sets up a web blog and asks women to describe the positive and/or negative experiences they have had with sexually explicit material. This is an example of what kind of research?

A)interview
B)naturalistic observation
C)quantitative
D)qualitative

Question 27

Kinsey and his colleagues were interested in studying

A)the causes of sexual behaviours.
B)the incidence of sexual behaviours.
C)the treatment of sexual dysfunctions.
D)the sexual response cycle.

Question 28

As a research project, a group of researchers studied the interactions of three homosexual teens in a predominantly heterosexual high school by going to classes with the students for the first six months of their junior year. Which method is the research team using?

A)experimental
B)interview
C)survey
D)case study

Question 29

In comparison to non-volunteers, volunteers for sex surveys tend to be

A)more sexually restrictive and conservative-minded.
B)more sexually permissive and liberal-minded.
C)more likely to have sexual problems.
D)less likely to have sexual problems.

Question 30

Researchers using the case study method must be especially aware of

A)observer bias.
B)sample adjustment.
C)participant bias.
D)sample stratification.

Question 31

In human sexuality research, a population is a

A)representative sample.
B)target group.
C)percentage of a larger group.
D)complete group of people.

Question 32

A scale with good validity

A)measures what it purports to measure.
B)demonstrates incidence.
C)is consistent and precise.
D)results in a representative sample.

Question 33

An advantage to using interviews instead of questionnaires is that interviews

A)are more objective.
B)take less time to administer.
C)give researchers the opportunity to probe.
D)are less expensive.

Question 34

Disadvantages of the case-study method include

A)lack of thorough descriptions of the demographic variables.
B)uncertainty about the subject's background.
C)too little contact time between client and clinician.
D)the lack of rigour compared to an experiment.

Question 35

Statisticians have concluded that Kinsey's researched contained

A)systematic biases.
B)observer biases.
C)an over-sampling of poor people.
D)a true probability sample.

Question 36

Which study had its federal funding blocked on the grounds that it was inappropriate for the government to support sex research?

A)Canadian Youth, Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Study
B)Kinsey Reports
C)National Health and Social Life Survey
D)Compass survey

Question 37

A completion rate of 80% for the National Health and Social Life Survey (NHSLS)can be credited to the fact that

A)most respondents were sexually curious individuals.
B)participants were given a financial incentive.
C)most participants were college-educated.
D)most respondents were young, liberal adults.

Question 38

In sex research, case studies have been especially helpful in

A)developing new varieties of sexual techniques.
B)identifying the social barriers encountered by homosexuals.
C)treating sexual dysfunctions.
D)recording ethnic differences in sexual responsiveness.

Question 39

In many surveys of sexual behaviour, it is likely that respondents have been reluctant to disclose same-sex behaviour because they perceive a stigma attached to gay and lesbian sexuality. This is an example of

A)poor locus of control.
B)social desirability bias.
C)researchers not adequately stressing the importance of being honest.
D)a lack of randomization.

Question 40

Reliability refers to

A)how trustworthy subjects' responses can be considered.
B)how accurately different interviewers record subjects' responses.
C)how accurately the questions measure what they're intended to measure.
D)how consistently a question elicits the same answer on different occasions.

Question 41

In sex research, direct observation is limited because

A)people are reluctant to share their sexual histories with interviewers.
B)it is difficult to get people to participate in sex research.
C)sexual activities are commonly performed in private.
D)many people are illiterate and cannot read questions posed by researchers.

Question 42

An experimenter makes the claim that church-going increases marital happiness. In order to make this claim, the experimenter must have done a(n)

A)observational study.
B)experimental study.
C)correlational study.
D)survey study.

Question 43

Masters and Johnson's research provided data on

A)the association between marijuana use and liberal attitudes towards premarital sex.
B)what happens to the body during sexual response.
C)how people physiologically and subjectively respond to viewing pornography.
D)the frequency of masturbation among American adults.

Question 44

While conducting interviews, Kinsey and his colleagues used a(n)________ response, which reassured participants that they were normal.

A)ambivalent
B)empathetic
C)non-judgmental
D)reflective

Question 45

The primary goal of correlational research is

A)explanation.
B)control.
C)prediction.
D)description.

Question 46

In sex research surveys, an unavoidable bias in the people who participate might be

A)an overrepresentation of older adults.
B)more permissive attitudes about sex.
C)a lack of education.
D)more conservative beliefs about premarital sex.

Question 47

A young woman who perceives that frequent masturbation among females is looked upon with disapproval by her peers reports in a survey that she masturbates daily. Her response is an example of

A)a respondent unaffected by social desirability bias.
B)the influence of social desirability bias.
C)social desirability bias sometimes leading to the overestimation of sexual behaviours.
D)the need to use validity checks to control for social desirability bias.

Question 48

The National Health and Social Life Survey (NHSLS)was intended to gain specific information that might be used to

A)predict and prevent the spread of HIV.
B)study the treatment of sexual dysfunctions.
C)understand ethnic differences in sexual practices.
D)stop the spread of pornographic materials.

Question 49

In naturalistic observation, scientists

A)manipulate a variable and observe its effects on a second variable.
B)interview subjects about their attitudes and lifestyle.
C)learn about people's behaviour by directly interacting with them.
D)watch the behaviour of animals and humans where it happens.

Question 50

If a researcher can say that A causes B, then the researcher has most likely used

A)the correlational method.
B)laboratory observation.
C)the case study method.
D)the experimental method.

Question 51

Masters and Johnson published their groundbreaking research in the

A)1940s.
B)1950s.
C)1960s.
D)1970s.

Question 52

Laboratory research by Canadian researcher Meredith Chivers has been consistent with the view that

A)women are genitally aroused by a wider range of stimuli than men.
B)men are genitally aroused by a wider range of stimuli than women.
C)men's subjective and objective responses to sexual stimuli tend to be incongruent.
D)both heterosexual and lesbian women are likely to exhibit greater sexual arousal to stimuli depicting male targets.

Question 53

Which of the following is the most accurate statement about Brotto et al.'s findings concerning predictors of the sexual attitudes and behaviours of Asian Canadians?

A)Ethnic background was more powerful than length of residence.
B)Length of residence was more powerful than acculturation.
C)Acculturation was more powerful than length of residence.
D)Length of residence was more powerful than ethnic background.

Question 54

Margaret Mead reported on the customs of various peoples of New Guinea. The type of research she conducted is called

A)ethnographic research.
B)experimental research.
C)laboratory observation.
D)survey research.

Question 55

A researcher can assess the reliability of a survey by

A)checking the consistency of responses.
B)asking focus groups for their opinion of the questionnaire.
C)conducting tests for validity.
D)incorporating participant observation.

Question 56

In a sexual survey, participant X brags to the interviewer that he has had twelve different partners in the last year when, in actuality, he has had only two. Participant X is an example of a research limitation called

A)observer bias.
B)volunteer bias.
C)social desirability.
D)denial.

Question 57

How do we know that respondents are telling the truth when they take part in sex surveys?

A)by increasing the size of sample
B)by checking for consistency in responses
C)by comparing similar respondents
D)by comparing results with similar studies

Question 58

Which of the following scientists would typically specialize and engage in ethnographic research?

A)psychologists
B)physiologists
C)taxonomists
D)anthropologists

Question 59

To better understand obstacles to condom use on college campuses, a researcher uses structured interviews with 20 male students about their most recent experience of unprotected sex. What research methodology is the researcher using?

A)quantitative
B)survey
C)qualitative
D)experimental

Question 60

The focus group method can be especially useful

A)when limited research has been done on a topic.
B)in situations where a research topic is likely to be taboo.
C)in situations where qualitative research is not appropriate.
D)when a hypothesis is clearly established.

Question 61

The strength and direction of the relationship between two variables is expressed with a statistic called the

A)central tendency.
B)correlation coefficient.
C)standard deviation.
D)selection factor.

Question 62

A hypothesis is a precise prediction that can be tested empirically.

Question 63

Informed consent implies that

A)individuals are informed about procedures, purpose, risks, and benefits involved in the research.
B)once individuals agree to participate, they must follow through and complete the study.
C)individuals are informed about purpose, risks, and benefits, but not procedures.
D)participants are told about the benefits of the research.

Question 64

Which of the following is not an example of a qualitative methodology?

A)structured interviews
B)diaries
C)focus group discussions
D)multiple-choice questionnaires

Question 65

In experimental research, the experimental group

A)is the placebo group.
B)is the group that receives the treatment.
C)is the group for which variables are not manipulated.
D)is the control group.

Question 66

When a researcher intentionally does not inform the subject of the true nature of the study because it would alter the outcomes of the study, the researcher is using

A)coercion.
B)debriefing.
C)deception.
D)control.

Question 67

In a study examining the impact of drinking increasing amounts of alcohol on female sexual response, levels of vaginal lubrication would be which variable?

A)independent
B)coefficient
C)corresponding
D)dependant

Question 68

Which of the following best describes what is usually included in informed consent?

A)Once an individual agrees in writing to participate, they must complete the study.
B)Individuals agree not to receive any incentives to participate in the study.
C)Individuals are informed of the benefits and risks of the study but not the procedures.
D)Individuals are informed about the benefits, risks, and procedures used in the study.

Question 69

Dr. Sexalot wanted to conduct research on comparing the age of women to the number of orgasms achieved during partnered sexual activity. The most appropriate method he should use is the

A)participant-observation method.
B)experimental method.
C)correlational method.
D)laboratory-observation method.

Question 70

After exposure to thirty minutes of sexually explicit film, or erotic but not sexually explicit film, sexual arousal is measured in female and male subjects with a penile strain gauge or a vaginal photoplethysmograph. What is the independent variable in this study?

A)sexually explicit films
B)the penile strain gauge or vaginal photoplethysmograph
C)gender
D)amount of sexual arousal

Question 71

An independent variable is _________; a dependent variable is ________.

A)the treatment; the manipulated variable
B)the manipulated variable; the treatment
C)the manipulated variable; the measured result
D)the measured result; the manipulated variable

Question 72

A researcher wants to study the effect of exercise on sexual responsiveness. To test her hypothesis, she assigns individuals to two groups. One group engages in thirty minutes of structured exercise four times a week. The other group does not participate in the exercise program. Each week, individuals complete a questionnaire regarding sexual responsiveness. What is the dependent variable in this study?

A)no exercise
B)thirty minutes of exercise four times a week
C)subjects' answers on the questionnaires
D)the questionnaire

Question 73

Exposing children to pornographic materials in order to determine the effects of pornography on sexual attitudes is a breach of ethics because

A)confidentiality must be maintained.
B)persons must not be subjected to physical or psychological harm.
C)children cannot be debriefed following the experiment.
D)parents must sign consent forms for children.

Question 74

Correlational research

A)looks for margins of error between two variables.
B)investigates the causal relationship between two variables.
C)studies the effect of change in one variable on a second variable.
D)describes the relationship between two variables.

Question 75

Which of the following is an important ethical standard in conducting research on human sexuality?

A)not using double-blind study designs
B)protecting research participants from all types of harm
C)maintaining subjectivity about data that conflicts with the researcher's moral values
D)maintaining objectivity when the reliability of subject responses is questionabl

Question 76

In a study investigating the relationship between alcohol use and contraception, researchers found that as individuals consumed more alcohol, they were less likely to use contraception. These results would indicate

A)a negative correlation between alcohol use and contraceptive use.
B)a causal relationship between alcohol use and contraceptive use.
C)a positive correlation between alcohol use and contraceptive use.
D)that no determination can be made from these results.

Question 77

If researchers have used a random assignment and held all other conditions constant, they can be confident that the findings of the study are the result of manipulation of which variable?

A)independent
B)coefficient
C)corresponding
D)dependant

Question 78

In a well-designed experimental study, members of the control group

A)volunteer to take a placebo.
B)are informed before the experiment begins that they will not receive the treatment.
C)are randomly assigned.
D)are selected because they differ from the treatment group.

Question 79

The variable manipulated by the researcher in an experimental study is the

A)control variable.
B)independent variable.
C)placebo.
D)dependent variable.

Question 80

At its best, the science of human sexuality can tell people how they should behave.