Question 1

According to the National Surveys on Family Growth, which of the following is True of 15-19 year olds in the U. S. who report engaging in sexual intercourse over the last two decades?

Accepted Answer

According to the National Surveys on Family Growth, males consistently report higher rates of engaging in sexual intercourse than females in the 15-19 age group over the last two decades.

Question 2

According to the National Surveys on Family Growth, the percentage of 15-19 year olds in the U. S. who report engaging in sexual intercourse over the last two decades has

Accepted Answer

The National Surveys on Family Growth indicate that the percentage of 15-19 year olds in the U. S. who report engaging in sexual intercourse has dropped steadily over the last two decades.

Question 3

In the naturalistic observation method,

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation involves scientists directly observing the behavior of animals and humans in their natural environment. This means they do not participate in the behavior or manipulate any variables, but simply observe and record what they see.

Question 4

The process of gathering information from volunteer respondents about their knowledge, attitudes, or behaviors is called

Accepted Answer

A survey is a research method that involves collecting information from volunteer respondents about their knowledge, attitudes, or behaviors. Surveys typically involve asking participants questions through interviews, questionnaires, or online surveys.

Question 5

Fisher et al. (2012) reported that men in their study reported __________ thoughts about sex compared to the number women reported

Accepted Answer

Fisher et al. (2012) found that men reported significantly more thoughts about sex compared to the number of thoughts reported by women.

Question 6

Scientists are likely to do which of the following in naturalistic observation?

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation involves observing behavior in its natural setting, without any manipulation or interference from the researcher. Therefore, scientists would watch the behavior of animals and humans where it happens to collect data. Choice A involves manipulation, choice B involves interviewing, and choice C involves interacting, which are not methods used in naturalistic observation.

Question 7

Which ethnic population was either not surveyed or was underrepresented in The National Health and Social Life Survey studies?

Accepted Answer

Native Americans were either not surveyed or underrepresented in The National Health and Social Life Survey studies.

Question 8

Which of the following statements is True regarding surveys conducted by magazines such as Psychology Today, Redbook, and Elle?

Accepted Answer

Surveys conducted by magazines such as Psychology Today, Redbook, and Elle use unscientific samples, such as self-selected volunteers, which cannot be generalized to a population. Therefore, the statements made based on these surveys are not considered to be accurate or reliable.

Question 9

When a survey respondent does not answer honestly, how are they probably forming responses?

Accepted Answer

They may hide information that they either fear or are embarrassed to reveal, or they may exaggerate to get attention or to play with the survey.

Question 10

According to the National Surveys on Family Growth, which of the following is True of the gender gap between males and females 15-19 year olds who report engaging in sexual intercourse over the last two decades?

Accepted Answer

The gender gap between males and females 15-19 year olds who report engaging in sexual intercourse has been narrowing over the last two decades, according to the National Surveys on Family Growth.

Question 11

In survey research, the problem of participants providing responses that they think are acceptable instead of honest responses is called

Accepted Answer

Social desirability is a common problem in survey research where respondents provide responses that are socially acceptable or desirable instead of their true or honest opinions or experiences. The desire to maintain a positive self-image and avoid social disapproval or criticism can lead respondents to provide inaccurate or biased responses.

Question 12

One of the best studies since Kinsey to offer an accurate picture of the sexual practice of the general population in the United States was the

Accepted Answer

The National Health and Social Life Survey (NHSLS) conducted in 1992 was a comprehensive study of sexual behavior, attitudes, and relationships among adults in the United States. The survey included a large and diverse sample of individuals, providing a more accurate picture of the general population's sexual practices than previous studies. The NHSLS was conducted by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, and the results were published in a book titled "The Social Organization of Sexuality."

Question 13

In a sexual survey, a participant brags to the interviewer that he has had twelve different partners in the last year when, in actuality, he has had only two. This participant presents a research limitation called

Accepted Answer

The participant's response is an example of social desirability bias, where the participant responds in a way that makes them look better or more socially acceptable than they actually are. In this case, the participant wanted to present themselves as more sexually active than they really were. Observer bias pertains to errors that occur in observation, volunteer bias is a limitation in studies where participants self-select to participate, and denial is a psychological defense mechanism where a person refuses to acknowledge reality.

Question 14

Which of the following statements about surveys is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

Targeting a particular, smaller population can provide more specific and nuanced information compared to broad surveys of the general population. This approach allows for a deeper understanding of specific subgroups within the larger population.

Question 15

All of the following are ways that The National Health and Social Life Survey encouraged completion of the questionnaire, EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

The sexual aspect of the survey was not originally concealed from the participants, but rather disclosed in the initial letter that was sent to each household. Therefore, option D is the correct answer as it contains an incorrect statement.

Question 16

A Facebook survey of sexual behavior is likely to be flawed due to

Accepted Answer

A Facebook survey may not represent the general population as it could be biased towards users who are active on the platform, leading to biased sampling.

Question 17

According to the results from the National Survey of Adolescents and Young Adults,

Accepted Answer

The survey results indicated that a majority of adolescents expressed a desire for more information about sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Question 18

What is the term used when a researcher encounters a participant who feels pressured to answer a survey or interview question in a certain way?

Accepted Answer

The term used when a participant feels pressured to answer a survey or interview question in a certain way is called social desirability bias. This bias occurs when participants respond in a way that they believe is socially acceptable or desirable, rather than giving their honest answer.

Question 19

Which of the following surveys probably offered the most accurate picture of the sexual practices of the general population in the United States?

Accepted Answer

The National Survey of Family Growth is a large-scale and nationally representative survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that collects data on a wide range of topics related to family life, including sexual behavior. Its large sample size and representative nature make it the most accurate for understanding the sexual practices of the general population in the United States.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

People who are more permissive about sex are more likely to participate in sex research surveys, while those who are more conservative may be less likely to participate or may choose not to answer certain questions truthfully. This can create a bias in the results.

Quiz 2: Research Methods in Human Sexuality