Deck 2: Sex Research Methods and Problems

Question 1

What is a disadvantage of the direct observational method of research?

A)The subjects' behaviors may be influenced by the presence of an observer.
B)It is impossible to generalize the findings to the target population.
C)You can only study one subject at a time.
D)The measurements obtained through this method are entirely subjective.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which research method would be MOST appropriate for investigating the relationship between the religious beliefs of Americans and their attitudes toward sex education in the schools?

A)Case study
B)Experimental method
C)Direct observation
D)Survey

Answer 2

D

Question 3

In a(n)____ sample, subgroups are represented according to their incidence in the larger population.

A)survey
B)equivalent
C)random
D)representative

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The first extensive survey of sexual behavior in the United States were conducted in . . .

A)the late 1940s and early 1950s.
B)the mid-1800s.
C)the early 1920s.
D)the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Question 5

Mariela has written a scientific paper about a young man who suffered severe pelvic injuries during his wartime service. In her paper, Mariela discussed both the psychological and physical effects of the injuries, and outlines the course of treatment the young man has pursued to adjust to his injuries. To write this paper, Mariela interviewed the young man and members of his treatment team, and was provided with access to his medical records. Mariela's paper is an example of a(n). . .

A)direct observational design.
B)experiment.
C)case study.
D)survey.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT true of surveys?

A)They tend to have very low nonresponse rates.
B)They allow researchers to gather data from large samples.
C)They tend to be more cost-efficient than other types of research.
D)The results obtained from surveys are more generalizable than those obtained from case studies.

Question 7

Which of the following is true of the case study method of research?

A)It is difficult to explore a problem in any great depth.
B)It may be difficult to generalize the findings to the target population.
C)It tends to be very inexpensive.
D)The measurements obtained through this method are entirely subjective.

Question 8

In which type of research is a representative sample of people asked to answer questions about their sexual attitudes or behaviors by means of questionnaires or interviews?

A)Case study
B)Survey
C)Direct observation
D)Sample of convenience

Question 9

The survey method:

A)allows for flexibility in data-gathering procedures.
B)is objective and largely eliminates problems of demographic bias.
C)can be done with the use of technology such as computers.
D)can only be generalized to the people who were actually surveyed.

Question 10

The primary goal of sexology is to:

A)publish material that is interesting and entertaining to the public.
B)test assumptions about sexuality in a scientific way.
C)study only those behaviors that can be electronically quantified.
D)encourage people to increase sexual experimentation.

Question 11

A representative sample is also known as a:

A)target sample.
B)random sample.
C)volunteer sample.
D)probability sample.

Question 12

Direct observation is a reliable method for studying sexuality because the possibility of ____ is greatly reduced.

A)demographic bias
B)researcher interpretive bias
C)data falsification
D)self-selection

Question 13

John is studying the case of a Bruce, 35-year-old male who lost his penis at circumcision. John interviews all the family members, reads medical records, and writes a book about the topic, focusing on how the surgery has affected Bruce's self-concept, gender identity, and sexual behavior. Most likely, John considers himself a . . .

A)humanist.
B)social psychologist.
C)sexologist.
D)forensic psychologist.

Question 14

Sexology . . .

A)Is one of the oldest branches of science.
B)Is declining as a scientific discipline due to lack of interest.
C)Is a challenging branch of scientific study because it focuses on an aspect of life that many people prefer to keep private.
D)Is not considered a valid scientific specialty.

Question 15

The first large-scale surveys of sexual behavior in the United States were conducted by . . .

A)Sigmund Freud.
B)Alfred Kinsey.
C)Virginia Masters and William Johnson.
D)Margaret Sanger.

Question 16

Most of our scientific information about human sexuality has been obtained through:

A)case studies.
B)surveys.
C)direct observation.
D)experimental research.

Question 17

A group chosen in such a way that each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected is known as a . . .

A)clinical sample
B)qualitative sample
C)random sample
D)carpet sample

Question 18

Which of the following would be the most cost-effective method for conducting a survey?

A)Face-to-face interviews
B)Telephone surveys
C)Questionnaires
D)Door-to-door interviews

Question 19

Which of the following is a method used to conduct surveys?

A)Telephone interviews
B)The Internet
C)Door-to-door interviews
D)All of the above.

Question 20

All of the following are goals of sexologists EXCEPT:

A)understanding sexual behavior.
B)promoting sexual behavior.
C)predicting sexual behavior.
D)controlling sexual behavior.

Question 21

Kinsey and his associates obtained their data on sexuality by means of:

A)direct observation.
B)case studies.
C)experimental research.
D)survey interviews.

Question 22

For her dissertation project, Tolu intends to interview people who identify themselves as having test anxiety regarding the origins of their fears and what they do to cope. Destiny's dissertation involves interviewing college students about their first episode of sexual intercourse, including whether they saw it as a positive experience. Compared to Tolu, Destiny…

A)likely will have less difficulty recruiting subjects.
B)will not need to worry as much about her subjects changing their responses to make themselves look better.
C)likely will have more difficulty finding people willing to participate in her study.
D)likely will get more accurate responses from her subjects.

Question 23

Which of the following is an advantage of using interviews instead of questionnaires?

A)They provide opportunities for flexibility.
B)They are less expensive than administering questionnaires.
C)They preserve anonymity.
D)Subjects are less likely to distort information with an interviewer.

Question 24

The results of the National Health and Social Life Survey reflect an American people who are:

A)less content with their erotic lives than was widely believed.
B)more sexually active than was widely believed.
C)more sexually conservative than was widely believed.
D)indulgent in all kinds of conventional and unconventional sexual practices.

Question 25

The fact that the majority of participants in sex research have been white, middle-class volunteers illustrates the problem of:

A)random sampling.
B)probability sampling.
C)demographic bias.
D)data discrimination.

Question 26

Kinsey's studies on American sexuality were pioneering but limited, because his sample included ____.

A)a disproportionate number of better educated persons.
B)nonvolunteers.
C)large numbers of people from rural areas.
D)mostly older adults.

Question 27

One of the problems with sex survey research is ____, which occurs when a person refuses to participate in a study.

A)nonresponse
B)low self-esteem
C)the bystander effect
D)diffusion of responsibility

Question 28

Questionnaires and interviews:

A)both involve asking a set of questions.
B)may involve multiple-choice, true or false, or discussion questions.
C)allow subjects to respond alone, in their own homes, or with a researcher.
D)have all of the above characteristics.

Question 29

Which of the following is an advantage of using questionnaires instead of interviews?

A)The researcher can develop a rapport with the subject.
B)They provide opportunities for flexibility.
C)They are usually anonymous.
D)They usually have a longer timeline and are more thorough.

Question 30

Interviews have an advantage over questionnaires in that:

A)the format of an interview is always preset.
B)the interviewer can clarify confusing questions.
C)the sequence of questions remains constant.
D)it is not necessary to establish a rapport with the subject.

Question 31

Several studies indicate that volunteers for sex research tend to:

A)demonstrate less sexual interest and activity than non-volunteers.
B)be more sexually experienced than non-volunteers.
C)have lower levels of sexual self-esteem than non-volunteers.
D)be in long-term, committed relationships more than non-volunteers.

Question 32

You are conducting a large scale sex survey and want to ensure that the results are representative of the larger population. In other words, you want to minimize the problem of:

A)ethnographic bias.
B)replicability.
C)demographic bias.
D)equivalent sampling.

Question 33

Taylor has volunteered to participate in a research study focused on subjects' recollections of their earlier sexual experiences. Most likely, Taylor . . .

A)is not sexually experienced.
B)will be able to provide very accurate data regarding Taylor's first sexual experience.
C)has a fairly negative attitude towards sexuality.
D)is female.

Question 34

The degree to which research data may be biased as a result of the differences in the people who volunteer to participate in a study, as opposed to those who do not, is called:

A)the bystander effect.
B)self-selection.
C)demographic bias.
D)ethnocentrism.

Question 35

In written or oral surveys, a relatively small group, called the ____, is used to draw conclusions about a larger group, called the ____.

A)experimental group; control group
B)random sample; representative sample
C)representative sample; target population
D)dependent variable; independent variable

Question 36

Which of the following statements regarding Kinsey's research is true?

A)Kinsey's samples included only a small percentage of females.
B)His samples included people from a wide variety of ethnic groups.
C)All of the respondents were married and age 40 or older.
D)His samples included people of various ages, religious backgrounds, and educational levels.

Question 37

In order to learn about the sexual attitudes and behaviors of all the students attending Cleveland High School, Professor Brewer randomly selected and surveyed 50 of the students. In this case, all of the students attending the high school are called the:

A)target population.
B)dependent variable.
C)representative sample.
D)independent variable.

Question 38

In order to generalize accurately, it is important to survey a ____ sample of cases.

A)self-selected
B)target
C)representative
D)random

Question 39

Assume that you wanted to research a sensitive subject and that you planned to have a fairly large sample size. Helping the respondents to feel at ease as well as giving them an opportunity to elaborate on their answers is crucial. Adequate funding for your study is not a problem. Which of the following research methods would BEST suit your needs?

A)Case study
B)Questionnaire
C)Experimental research
D)Survey by interview

Question 40

A local radio talk show host asks his listeners to call in and report how frequently they engage in sexual intercourse. Which of the following BEST describes the validity of this information?

A)Because a random sample of the audience will call in, this will be valid information.
B)Because this is considered a demographically balanced sample, the information will be valid.
C)Because the host is utilizing the experimental method instead of the survey method, the information will not be valid.
D)Because this sample is not representative of the community, it will not be valid.

Question 41

The National Health and Social Life Survey is considered noteworthy because:

A)large numbers of prostitutes and their clients agreed to participate.
B)it examined the sexual practices of teenagers.
C)it yielded data that most social scientists believe reliably indicate the sexual practices of American adults ages 18 to 59.
D)new physiological recording devices were utilized.

Question 42

Which statement is NOT true of the National Health and Social Life Survey?

A)The NHSLC was a federally funded project.
B)The NHSLC was carried out by a team of researchers from the University of Chicago.
C)Too few members of Jews, Asian Americans, and Native Americans were included to provide useful information about these groups.
D)More than 75% of the people contacted agreed to participate.

Question 43

The National Health and Social Life Survey . . .

A)was hampered by a very high nonresponse rate.
B)used the direct observation method to study a broad range of human sexual behaviors.
C)is an example of case study research.
D)suggested that Americans were less sexually active and more content in their sex lives than was previously believed.

Question 44

Which of the following statements regarding Masters and Johnson's research is TRUE? ​

A)Their subjects were required to pay to participate in the study. ​
B)Their final sample population consisted primarily of individuals with above average intelligence from an academic community.
C)They employed the case study method of research.
D)They employed the survey method of research.

Question 45

Many researchers consider which of the following to be the single best survey conducted of adult sexual behavior to date?

A)Kinsey's research
B)Masters and Johnson's research
C)The American Life League Survey
D)The National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior

Question 46

A kind of sampling bias in which certain segments of society (such as White, middle-class, white-collar workers)are disproportionately represented in a study population is known as:

A)nonresponse.
B)demographic bias.
C)researcher bias.
D)volunteer bias.

Question 47

The book Human Sexual Response was written by: ​

A)Alfred Kinsey.
B)Masters and Johnson.
C)John Bancroft. ​
D)John Kellogg.

Question 48

Which of the following statements MOST accurately describes Kinsey's research?

A)It discovered the causes of sexual dysfunction in men and women.
B)It described the physiology of sexual behavior in women and men.
C)It described patterns of sexual behavior in men and women.
D)It reported the incidence of deviant sexual behavior in men.

Question 49

Landmark studies involving direct observation of physiological arousal during sexual activity were conducted by. . . ​

A)Sigmund Freud.
B)Virginia Masters and William Johnson.
C)Alfred Kinsey.
D)Sylvester Graham.

Question 50

The National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB)survey included information regarding . . .

A)the percentage of subjects who participated in same-sex encounters.
B)patterns of condom use.
C)more than 40 combinations of sexual acts engaged in during sexual events.
D)All of the above.

Question 51

If you wanted information on how men and women respond physiologically during sexual arousal and orgasm, your BEST source of information would be: ​

A)Masters and Johnson.
B)Kinsey.
C)the National Health and Social Life Survey.
D)the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior.

Question 52

Evidence from some case studies suggests that people suffering from chronic alcoholism tend to show: ​

A)decreased arousability but heightened sexual interest.
B)increased arousability and sexual interest.
C)decreased arousability and lowered sexual interest.
D)Enhanced sexual performance.

Question 53

Data for the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB)were collected via:

A)paper-and-pencil questionnaire.
B)the Internet.
C)face-to-face interview.
D)the traditional phone survey.

Question 54

Kinsey's research . . .

A)is still considered relevant to understanding sexuality in America.
B)was based on a sample that was highly representative of the American population at the time.
C)was based on a very small sample of subjects.
D)was largely ignored in his time.

Question 55

A direct consequence of the shift in funding sources from federal agencies to drug companies has been a(n):

A)de-emphasis on the psychosocial aspects of human sexual functioning.
B)improvement in women's health.
C)decline in integrity of scientific peer review.
D)increase in the use of the experimental method.

Question 56

Survey studies of various populations of men have indicated that exposure to sexually violent pornography may lead to all of the following EXCEPT:

A)reduced sensitivity to rape victims.
B)increased tolerance for sexually aggressive behavior.
C)greater acceptance of the myth that women want to be raped.
D)increased arousal (as measured physiologically)in nonviolent sexual encounters.

Question 57

The National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB). . .

A)was conducted in 1990 and funded by the U.S. Congress.
B)has largely been ignored by sexologists because political concerns greatly limited the types of questions researchers could ask.
C)was based on data from about 200 adults and adolescents.
D)included data from subjects randomly selected from a probability sample drawn from a file of residential addresses representing 98% of the U.S. population.

Question 58

Which of the following groups was overrepresented in the Kinsey studies?

A)Educated, city-dwelling Protestants
B)Low-income, urban Catholics
C)Low-income, rural Protestants
D)African Americans and other ethnic minorities

Question 59

Masters and Johnson's research findings have proved useful in the areas of . . . ​

A)conception control.
B)infertility counseling.
C)general sex education.
D)All of the above.

Question 60

Which of the following studies provided one of the most expansive, nationally representative studies of sexual behavior and condom use to date?

A)Kinsey studies
B)Masters and Johnson studies
C)NHSLS survey
D)NSSHB survey

Question 61

Since case study evidence demonstrates that rapists often report high exposure to sexually violent pornography, we can conclude that:

A)viewing violent pornography causes men to rape women.
B)there may be an association between the exposure to violent pornography and rape.
C)the rapists were sexually abused themselves as children.
D)more legislation banning pornography should be passed.

Question 62

A group of college men is exposed to films with nonviolent sexual themes. A second group is exposed to R-rated films in which men commit sexual violence against women. Several days later, all men complete an attitude questionnaire. The results demonstrate that the second group of men is more accepting of violence toward women than the first group. What is the dependent variable in this study?

A)The films with nonviolent sexual themes
B)The films with sexually violent themes
C)The subjects' responses to the questionnaire
D)The attitude questionnaire

Question 63

Axel spends a lot of time viewing violent pornography. Axel's roommate, Ira, does not like violent pornography and makes an effort to avoid it. Compared to Ira, Axel . . .

A)is less likely to tolerate sexually aggressive behavior toward women.
B)is less likely to express sympathy for a rape victim.
C)is more likely to believe that women want to be raped.
D)is more likely to commit rape.

Question 64

After helping two of her psychotherapy clients deal with the impact of viewing excessive amounts of pornography in their intimate relationships, Dr. Kamari began to grossly overestimate the negative effects of viewing sexually explicit materials. Dr. Kamari should be reminded of the limits of:

A)case studies.
B)surveys.
C)self-selection.
D)direct observation.

Question 65

A vaginal photoplethysmograph:

A)measures increased vaginal blood volume.
B)measures increased vaginal lubrication.
C)measures genital arousal.
D)records orgasmic contractions.

Question 66

Studies have shown that circumcision is one of many effective strategies for reducing the spread of:

A)gonorrhea.
B)HPV.
C)syphilis.
D)HIV/AIDS.

Question 67

One disadvantage to using the experimental method for research is that:

A)results are highly unlikely to generalize to the larger population.
B)the artificiality of laboratory settings can affect the validity of results.
C)the low degree of control over the environment.
D)it is impossible to draw conclusions regarding cause-and-effect.

Question 68

A matched group of rapists and nonrapists listen to taped descriptions of sexual activity, one involving rape and the other involving consensual sexual interaction. The researcher measures the degree of penile engorgement in each group. The independent variable is:

A)the taped descriptions.
B)the penile tumescence among rapists.
C)the penile tumescence among nonrapists.
D)the group of nonrapists.

Question 69

A disadvantage of the survey method of research is that:

A)findings are less likely to generalize to the larger population than with other research methods.
B)they tend to be significantly more expensive to conduct than other research methods.
C)nonresponse rates can be high, and subjects may still distort their responses.
D)they provide information on a very limited sample of subjects.

Question 70

An advantage of the survey method of research is that:

A)problems with nonresponse or demographic bias are not likely to occur.
B)they are relatively inexpensive and data can be obtained from large groups of people.
C)they provide great flexibility in data-gathering procedures.
D)they allow us to demonstrate causal relationships.

Question 71

In one high school, condoms are freely available. In another similar high school, students must request condoms from the school nurse. The number of pregnancies among both groups of students are compared. The dependent variable is:

A)the freely available condoms.
B)the condoms available by request.
C)the high school students from the first school.
D)the number of pregnancies.

Question 72

In the experimental method, the ____ variable is controlled by the researcher while the ____ variable is the outcome that the experimenter observes and records.

A)dependent; independent
B)independent; dependent
C)random; representative
D)representative; random

Question 73

Which of the following research methods is best suited to exploring cause-and-effect relationships?

A)Experimental method
B)Survey
C)Case study
D)Direct observation

Question 74

One specific advantage of the case study method is that it allows:

A)researchers to obtain data on many subjects in a short period of time.
B)great flexibility in data gathering.
C)virtual elimination of the possibility of data falsification.
D)a high degree of control, thus allowing the researcher to raw conclusions about causation.

Question 75

Devices that measure sexual arousal electronically . . .

A)are sold for use recreationally, but are not considered valid scientific tools.
B)provide data that is more likely to be affected by response bias than if research subjects are asked to report their levels of sexual arousal.
C)work primarily by monitoring muscle activity in the pelvic region.
D)provide more accurate data than research participants' subjective responses.

Question 76

What is a major advantage of the experimental method?

A)The ability to obtain in-depth information of behaviors, thoughts, and feelings
B)The flexibility in data-gathering procedures
C)Control over variables that influence the behavior being studied
D)Anonymity

Question 77

All of the following are limitations of the case study method EXCEPT the:

A)memory distortions in recalling past events.
B)difficulty in generalizing what is learned to the larger population.
C)inflexible data-gathering procedures.
D)inappropriateness for addressing some kinds of research questions.

Question 78

Which of the following statements regarding case studies is FALSE?

A)They are often used to study atypical sexual behavior.
B)They allow for flexible data gathering.
C)The researcher is not easily able to generalize findings to broader populations.
D)Masters and Johnson's research (Human Sexual Response)is an example of the case study method.

Question 79

Which of the following research strategies would provide the MOST effective way of demonstrating that sexually violent media may cause or contribute to some rapists' assaultive behaviors?

A)The survey
B)The experimental method
C)Direct observation
D)The case study

Question 80

Which of the following research methods would provide you with the best information if you wished to examine the effects of different room temperatures on physiological sexual response?

A)Case study
B)Interview
C)Experimental research
D)Questionnaire