Question 1

In sex research, direct observation is limited because

Accepted Answer

Direct observation is limited in sex research because sexual activities are typically performed in private, making it challenging to observe them directly.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

To make a causal claim that church-going increases marital happiness, an experimental study is needed, where variables are manipulated and controlled to establish cause and effect.

Question 3

Masters and Johnson's research provided data on

Accepted Answer

Masters and Johnson's research focused on studying the physiological changes that occur during sexual response. They conducted experiments on both heterosexual and homosexual couples, providing data on the sexual response cycle and dispelling many myths about sexual behavior. They monitored heart rate, blood pressure, and other physiological changes during sexual activity, which led to a greater scientific understanding of sexual function.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Kinsey and his colleagues used a non-judgmental response to reassure participants that their experiences and feelings were normal, which helped in gathering honest and open responses during interviews.

Question 5

The primary goal of correlational research is

Accepted Answer

The primary goal of correlational research is to predict the relationship between variables. This type of research aims to identify the extent to which two or more variables are related to each other, without necessarily identifying cause and effect relationships.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

People who choose to participate in sex research surveys may have more permissive attitudes about sex, as they might be more comfortable discussing sexual topics compared to those with more conservative views.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

Social desirability bias typically leads individuals to underreport behaviors that are viewed negatively by society and overreport behaviors viewed positively. The young woman's candid response, despite societal disapproval, indicates she is not influenced by social desirability bias.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

The NHSLS was designed to gather data on sexual behavior to help predict and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS by understanding patterns and practices that could contribute to the transmission of the virus.

Question 9

In naturalistic observation, scientists

Accepted Answer

Naturalistic observation involves observing the behavior of animals and humans in their natural environment or setting, without any manipulation or intervention by the researcher. This means that options A and B, which involve manipulating a variable or interviewing subjects, do not fit the definition of naturalistic observation. Option C, while involving direct interaction, still implies some level of manipulation or intervention by the researcher, which is not present in naturalistic observation.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

Only the experimental method can establish causality by manipulating an independent variable (A) and measuring its effects on a dependent variable (B). Correlational studies only show a relationship between A and B, but not causality. Laboratory observation and case study methods do not necessarily involve manipulating variables or controlling extraneous factors, so they are less likely to establish causality.

Question 11

Masters and Johnson published their groundbreaking research in the

Accepted Answer

Masters and Johnson published their groundbreaking research on human sexual response in the 1960s, specifically in 1966.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

Meredith Chivers' research has shown that women, regardless of their sexual orientation, tend to have a broader pattern of genital arousal to various sexual stimuli compared to men. This includes being aroused by sexual activities that do not necessarily align with their stated sexual orientation.

Question 13

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?

Accepted Answer

Acculturation was found to be a more powerful predictor of the sexual attitudes and behaviors of Asian Canadians than the length of their residence in Canada, according to Brotto et al.'s findings. This suggests that the process of adapting to and adopting aspects of the dominant culture (acculturation) has a greater impact on these attitudes and behaviors than simply the amount of time spent living in the new culture.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

Margaret Mead conducted ethnographic research, which involves living among and observing a group of people to understand their culture and customs. This type of research is commonly used in anthropology and sociology. Experimental research involves manipulating variables to test hypotheses, laboratory observation involves studying behavior in a controlled setting, and survey research involves asking people to fill out questionnaires or surveys to gather data. None of these approaches are applicable to Mead's work.

Question 15

A researcher can assess the reliability of a survey by

Accepted Answer

Checking the consistency of responses is a key way to assess the reliability of a survey. This involves looking for patterns or inconsistencies in the answers given by respondents that could indicate issues with survey design, instructions, or other factors that could impact the accuracy or validity of the data. While other methods, such as tests for validity or participant observation, may also be valuable in assessing survey reliability, checking response consistency is a fundamental step in this process. Asking focus groups for their opinion of the questionnaire may be helpful in identifying potential issues but is not a direct assessment of its reliability.

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

Participant X is exhibiting social desirability bias, which refers to the tendency for individuals to answer questions in a way that is seen as socially desirable or acceptable, rather than providing truthful or accurate responses. In this case, the individual may feel that reporting a high number of sexual partners makes them appear more desirable or socially acceptable. However, this leads to an overestimation of the number of partners and can result in inaccurate research findings.

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

Checking for consistency in responses helps identify discrepancies or patterns that suggest truthful or untruthful answers.

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

Anthropologists typically specialize in ethnographic research, which involves studying cultures and societies through direct observation and interaction.

Question 19

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?

Accepted Answer

The researcher is using qualitative research methodology, as they are conducting structured interviews to gather in-depth insights into personal experiences and perceptions.

Question 20

The focus group method can be especially useful

Accepted Answer

The focus group method is best suited for situations where limited research has been done on a topic, as it allows for a more exploratory approach to gathering data and insights. It may also be useful in situations where a research topic is sensitive or difficult to discuss, but this is not the primary advantage of this research method. Additionally, focus groups are a qualitative research tool and as such are not appropriate for situations where quantitative data is needed to test a hypothesis.

Quiz 2: Research Methods