Question 1

Which of the following requires that an individual make simple perceptual judgments on whether a stimulus is detectable, whether the stimulus is more or less intense than a previous sensation, and in some cases whether the stimulus is painful?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following requires that an...

Question 2

Which tool is used to indirectly detect changes in blood flow associated with brain regional neural activity, including the most common technique, which is to assess cognitive, emotional, and sensory processes associated with sexual arousal, orgasm, genital pain, and even romantic love?

Accepted Answer

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is used to indirectly detect changes in blood flow in the brain, which correlates with neural activity. This technique is widely used in cognitive neuroscience and psychology to assess brain functions associated with various processes, including those related to sexual arousal and emotions.

Question 3

Animals that share important physiological and biological characteristics with humans, to the degree that they can be studied to reveal broad biological and behavioural patterns that are also present in humans, is known as __________.

Accepted Answer

Model organisms are used in research to understand biological processes that are similar across species, including humans, due to their shared physiological and biological characteristics.

Question 4

Amy is planning to set up a laboratory in which she studies sexual behaviours in relation to the physiological processes that underlie these behaviours. What discipline will she be primarily studying under?

Accepted Answer

Amy's focus on studying sexual behaviors in relation to physiological processes aligns with behavioral neuroscience, which examines the biological bases of behavior, including how the brain and nervous system influence actions.

Question 5

Rachel is conducting a study focussing on female sexuality in individuals with a history of childhood sexual abuse, and it is important for the participants to remain anonymous. Which research method or design would be best to use?

Accepted Answer

Surveys are best suited for this type of research because they can be designed to ensure the anonymity of participants, which is crucial for sensitive topics like sexual abuse. Surveys allow participants to respond privately and at their own pace, reducing the risk of discomfort or re-traumatization.

Question 6

Fateema has decided to use archival data-mining as part of her study on sexual behaviour. Which of the following obstacles may she come across?

Accepted Answer

The variables used in the past may not measure current interests.

Question 7

Gerald would like to study couple communication as a predictor of divorce. Which of the following research methods/designs would be most useful?

Accepted Answer

Direct observation is the most useful method for studying couple communication as a predictor of divorce because it allows researchers to directly observe and analyze the interactions and communication patterns between partners in real-time or through recorded sessions, providing rich, detailed data on their dynamics.

Question 8

Which of the following research designs is the least intrusive on its subjects?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following research designs is...

Question 9

What kind of design involves identifying themes of meaning in a text or set of observations?

Accepted Answer

Content analysis is a research tool used to determine the presence of certain words, themes, or concepts within some given qualitative data (i.e., text). Through content analysis, researchers can quantify and analyze the presence, meanings and relationships of such certain words, themes, or concepts.

Question 10

When conducting observational studies, researchers generally try to avoid interfering with the phenomena they are observing in order to do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Preserving ecological validity means maintaining the naturalness of the setting and behavior under study, which is why researchers avoid interfering in observational studies.

Question 11

Which of the following is the best definition of memory bias?

Accepted Answer

Memory bias occurs due to cognitive processes that distort how an event is remembered, affecting the accuracy and completeness of the recollection.

Question 12

During direct observation, researchers generally try to avoid interrupting the phenomena they are observing. What are they trying to preserve?

Accepted Answer

Ecological validity refers to the extent to which the findings of research studies can be generalized to real-world settings. By avoiding interruption during direct observation, researchers aim to preserve the naturalness of the environment and the authenticity of behaviors, thereby maintaining ecological validity.

Question 13

Juanita is recording people's reactions after viewing BDSM porn for the first time. She later goes back and reviews the recordings and reports on them in her research. By using this technique, what is she avoiding?

Accepted Answer

By reviewing recordings of people's reactions, Juanita avoids memory bias, as she does not have to rely on participants' recollection of their reactions, which can be inaccurate or influenced by subsequent events or thoughts.

Question 14

Using video recordings, John Gottman monitored conversations between mixed-sex and same-sex couples at his laboratory. He found that participants' expressions of positive or negative emotion during a 15-minute couple conversation about marital conflict could predict marital outcome years later. During this research, if Gottman had had other researchers working with him analyze the recordings, what concern would he be addressing?

Accepted Answer

Having other researchers analyze the recordings would address interpretation bias by ensuring that the findings are not solely based on Gottman's personal interpretations, but rather validated through multiple perspectives.

Question 15

John Gottman's work on couple communication in the prediction of divorce demonstrates the advantages of which research methodology?

Accepted Answer

John Gottman's research primarily utilized direct observation of couples to predict divorce outcomes, analyzing their interactions and communication patterns in a controlled setting.

Question 16

Pete is summarizing detailed descriptions from a small sample of individuals who participated in his research project. Which of the following statements is most likely true?

Accepted Answer

Qualitative research often involves summarizing detailed descriptions from a small sample to understand deeper insights, which aligns with Pete's activity.

Question 17

Which research method can be used qualitatively to uncover patterns or themes that naturally emerge from the research and to develop new ways of describing certain phenomena?

Accepted Answer

Content analysis is a qualitative research method that can be used to uncover patterns or themes that naturally emerge from the research and to develop new ways of describing certain phenomena.

Question 18

Sandeep is conducting a study on marital conflict in same-sex couples versus mixed-sex couples. One of his concerns is the possibility of responder bias. Which research method is he likely using?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Sandeep is conducting a study on marital...

Question 19

When working with case studies, why is it an issue for researchers that there is a lack of a control group or experimental design?

Accepted Answer

Without a control group or experimental design, researchers cannot establish causality, making it difficult to draw conclusions about cause-and-effect relationships.

Question 20

Carolyn is working on a study about a poorly understood aspect of sexuality that would be unethical to study through the use of experiments. Which of the following research methods or designs would be more suitable?

Accepted Answer

Case studies are suitable for studying poorly understood aspects of sexuality, especially when ethical concerns prevent experimental research. They allow for in-depth exploration of individual or group experiences without manipulating variables.

Quiz 3: Sex Research Methods