Deck 2: Research Methods

Question 1

A young child is severely punished for sexual exploration and, as a result, begins to associate sexual stimulation with feelings of guilt and anxiety. This scenario is most consistent with which theory?

A)Behaviourist theory
B)Social-cognitive theory
C)Bio-psychosocial theory
D)Psychoanalytic theory

Answer 1

A

Question 2

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.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Jane accepts that a passive role in sexual interaction is a social reality for women, but acts in contradiction by initiating sex. According to sexual scripts theory, Jane would be categorized as a

A)conformer.
B)exception finder.
C)transformer.
D)subverter.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Martin observes that in movies, men are often depicted bringing flowers to their dates. His male peers also give flowers to their dates. Martin decides that instead of flowers, he will give his date a book. This act is an example of the influence of sexual scripts at a

A)cultural level.
B)societal level.
C)interpersonal level.
D)tntrapsychic level.

Question 5

Some women prefer to be asked out on a date by a man, rather than ask a man out on a date themselves. This preference is an example of

A)disrupted feminist theory.
B)evolved gender bias.
C)the traditional sexual script.
D)a defense mechanism.

Question 6

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.

Question 7

Which of the following statements best reflects evolutionary theories of sex differences in reproductive strategy?

A)Women reproduce wisely, men reproduce widely.
B)Culture can override biological drives for pleasure.
C)Children learn gender roles from cultural examples.
D)Sexuality is the result of clashing unconscious forces.

Question 8

________ theory attributes sexuality to social and cultural circumstances, whereas ________ theory attributes sexual behaviour to our genes.

A)Psychoanalytic; sexual script
B)Sexual script; evolutionary
C)Evolutionary; feminist
D)Feminist: psychoanalytic

Question 9

Some lizards have a colouration that allows them to blend in with their surrounds. These lizards are better able to escape predators, and thus live long enough to reproduce. This reflects the concept of

A)natural selection.
B)speciation.
C)reductionism.
D)sociobiology.

Question 10

A child is in a traumatic accident, but cannot recall the event as an adult. Freud might suggest that the repression of this memory is attributable to

A)failure to resolve the phallic stage.
B)interference of the Oedipus complex.
C)energy shifting to erogenous zones.
D)defense mechanisms by one's ego.

Question 11

Sofia has a headache but has sex with her husband anyway, despite not being in the mood. According to social exchange theory, Sofia would perceive this behaviour as a sexual

A)reward.
B)cost.
C)compromise.
D)obligation.

Question 12

A young girl sees women on television cooking and cleaning, and tries to imitate their actions with her toys. Her parents enjoy this, and call her a "good little housekeeper." Which theory does this demonstrate?

A)Psychoanalystic
B)Bio-psychosocial
C)Social-cognitive
D)Behaviourist

Question 13

Which of the following illustrates one of the common basic assumptions of feminist theory?

A)Men evolved to possess an innate desire to control and subjugate women.
B)Female biology leads women to assume a caretaker role in family and society.
C)Women are less capable of overcoming psychological pressure than are men.
D)Women are not often leaders because society believes men are more capable than women.

Question 14

Which of the following statements exemplifies assertions of queer theory?

A)Heterosexual and homosexual individuals are "born that way" and cannot change.
B)Sexual identities span beyond categories of heterosexuality and homosexuality.
C)After heterosexuality, homosexuality is the second most accepted sexual orientation.
D)Homophobic individuals have homosexual thoughts, but do not consciously realize it.

Question 15

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 16

Some researchers have found that men who commit infidelity have different genes than men who are monogamous, and that these genes are traceable to ancestral humans. This idea reflects the concept of

A)speciation.
B)reductionism.
C)sociobiology.
D)adaptation.

Question 17

Which of the following would be considered a psychological variable?

A)Self-reported anxiety about the initiation of sexual activity
B)The stiffness of a man's erection after consuming alcohol
C)The number of sexual partners in relationship to one's age
D)Pupil dilation in response to viewing pornographic images

Question 18

Becoming sexually aroused when your partner touches your buttocks is an example of the concept of

A)erotic plasticity.
B)sexual analogues.
C)erogenous zones.
D)reinforcement.

Question 19

The sexual revolution was a significant cultural event, which had a greater impact on sexual behaviour for women than it did for men. This observation best exemplifies

A)Freud's theory of psychosexual development.
B)Darwin's theory of natural selection.
C)Baumeister's concept of erotic plasticity.
D)Sociobiological accounts of female sexuality.

Question 20

Jose often performs certain sexual behaviours that he does not enjoy, but that his partner likes. The interpersonal exchange model of sexual satisfaction predicts that Jose is likely to

A)experience lower sexual satisfaction and leave the relationship.
B)learn to enjoy these sexual activities and become sexually fulfilled.
C)have a high level of sexual satisfaction with his current partner.
D)require that his partner also perform the same behaviour.

Question 21

To study frequency of intercourse after age 65, the publishers of 65 Plus magazine include a survey in their January issue; 25% 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 22

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 23

Dr. Jones wants to answer the question of whether pet ownership increases one's attractiveness to the opposite sex. What would be the next step in finding a scientific answer to this question?

A)Formulate a research question.
B)Derive a hypothesis from theory.
C)Obtain experimental or survey evidence.
D)Draw conclusions from observation.

Question 24

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.

Question 25

Convenience samples often consist of

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

Question 26

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 27

Dr. Jones predicts that women are more attracted to men who own dogs than they are to men who own cats. What would be the next step in the scientific process for making this determination?

A)Write a literature review on pets and mate selection.
B)Formulate a hypothesis about male pet ownership.
C)Gather empirical evidence of women's preferences.
D)Publish an opinion article on men's pet ownership.

Question 28

Researchers using the case study method must be especially aware of

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

Question 29

A hypothesis is a(n)

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

Question 30

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 31

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 32

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 33

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 34

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 35

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.

Question 36

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 37

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 Grade 9 year. Which method is the research team using?

A)Experimental
B)Interview
C)Survey
D)Case study

Question 38

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 39

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 40

Researchers have found that sexual satisfaction varies with religious denomination. Here, religion is a _______ variable.

A)demographic
B)psychological
C)physiological
D)biological

Question 41

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 42

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 43

An experimenter makes the claim that church attendance 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 44

The primary goal of correlational research is

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

Question 45

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 46

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 47

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 48

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 49

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

A)Psychologists
B)Physiologists
C)Taxonomists
D)Anthropologists

Question 50

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 51

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 52

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 53

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 54

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 55

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 56

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 57

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 58

Reliability refers to

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

Question 59

Which of the following groups were underrepresented 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 60

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 61

A scientist wants to measure changes in female genital blood flow across the menstrual cycle. The best way to measure this would be to use a(n)

A)vaginal strain gauge.
B)blood pressure cuff.
C)thermographic camera.
D)oral thermometer.

Question 62

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 63

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 64

A researcher sets up a 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 65

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 questionable

Question 66

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)Dependent

Question 67

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 68

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)30 minutes of exercise four times a week
C)Subjects' answers on the questionnaires
D)The questionnaire

Question 69

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 70

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 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

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 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

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

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

Question 75

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 76

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 77

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 78

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 79

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)Dependent

Question 80

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.