PSYC-471 UNL Exam 1 (All Sections) With
Complete Solutions
Sexology - ANSWER scientific study of sexuality
goals: understand, predict, change change sexual behavior
Case Study - ANSWER an observation technique in which *one person* is
studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles
Self-Selection Bias - ANSWER people who volunteer for sex research are *more
likely to be sexually experienced* and *sexually liberal* than the general
population
Self-Report Bias (response issue) - ANSWER data often influenced by
tendencies towards *social desirability*
Social Desirability - ANSWER need to respond in socially appropriate ways
Experimental Designs - ANSWER involves *manipulation* of one or more
variables to investigate *causation*
Questionnaires - ANSWER can involve T/F, Multiple Choice, or free-answer
questions
advantages:
-generally *cheaper/more practical* than interviews
-can get *higher response rates* due to less embarrassing format
-less subject to *researcher biases*
disadvantages:
-also subject to *self-report bias*
-subjects can *skip uncomfortable questions*
Direct Observation - ANSWER observing behavior as it occurs
advantages:
-much more *accurate*/less subject to bias than self-report data
disadvantages:
-subject to *reactivity*
-not practical to use *random sampling*
,-can be *costly*
National Health and Social Life Survey - ANSWER *first large-scale population-
based survey on sexual attitudes/practices* conducted in the U.S.
Representative sample, unlike Kinsey Report
Conducted in 1992 with approx. 3,500 respondents.
Experimental Groups and Control Groups - ANSWER *Experimental
group*:subjects who *receive the intervention*
*Control group*:subjects who *do not receive the intervention*
-compared to the experimental group to see if the intervention produced a
difference
Computer-Assisted Self-Interview - ANSWER data collection where respondent
fills out *questionnaires on computer*
National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior - ANSWER a national survey of
sexual behavior in the US, based at Indiana University and published in 2010
(*sexual experiences and condom-use behaviors*)
Challenges of Sex Research - ANSWER -*privacy of sexual behavior*-renders
discussion uncomfortable/observation
-links to *emotional/moral issues*
-discomfort with the topic of sexual behavior produces *high nonresponse rates*
to requests for participation in sex research
Representative Sample - ANSWER *randomly selected* sample of subjects *from
a larger population* of subjects
gives *confidence* in findings
Demographic Bias - ANSWER much sex research is conducted in *middle-class
college communities*
Retrospective Self-Report - ANSWER (asking about *behavior in past*) tends to
be *unreliable* as *memories degrade with time*
Interviews - ANSWER can be structured or unstructured
advantages:
-allows for more *flexibility* than questionnaires
,-with *good rapport, can get better information*
disadvantages:
-subject to *self-report bias* and *interview biases*
-interpresonal format may be too *uncomfortable* for respondents
-tend to be *costly and time consuming*
Penile Strain Gauge - ANSWER a device for measuring sexual arousal through
changes in penile circumference
Reactivity - ANSWER process by which behavior changes because it is being
measured
(may not generalize to population)
Peer-Reviewed Source - ANSWER written and evaluated by *experts in the field*
(research scientists)
Random Sample - ANSWER group chose in such a way that each member of the
population has an *equal chance of being selected*
Self-Report Bias - ANSWER data often influenced by tendencies towards *social
desirability*
Descriptive Designs - ANSWER examination of a phenomenon or group of
phenomena; *no manipulation of variables*
(surveys, interviews, questionnaires, direct observation, correlational designs
Surveys - ANSWER involves questioning a sample of people about behaviors
attitudes
(descriptive design)
Vaginal Photoplethysmograph - ANSWER a device that uses light to indirectly
measure blood flow to the vagina
Correlational Designs - ANSWER measuring two (or more) variables to
determine whether they are statistically related (vary together)
*positively correlated*: higher score on one is associated with a higher score on
the other
*negatively correlated*: a higher score on one is associated with a lower score
on the other
, advantages:
-enables you to determine if there is a *relationship between variables*
disadvantages:
-does not explain the *nature of relationship* between the variables (may be
misleading)
-does not prove causation
Randomization of Subjects - ANSWER subjects assigned in such a way that each
has an *equal chance* of ending up in *either the experimental or the control
group*
must have for experimental designs
Randomized Controlled Trials - ANSWER -Involves randomly assigning subjects
to receive one of a number of possible interventions.
-State of the art for clinical research.
Ethical Principles in Research - ANSWER DO NO HARM
-Informed consent
Informed Consent - ANSWER research subjects must be aware of:
-*what will take place* during the study
-any *risks* involved
-*freedom to withdraw* at any time
Tuskegee Syphilis Study - ANSWER -Focused on low-income African-American
men who were never told they had syphilis and were repeatedly prevented from
receiving treatment.
-To this day, has created mistrust of public health interventions.
Testosterone - ANSWER 20-40 times higher in males than females
primarily produced in testes in males, also in *adrenal glands* (located above
kidneys)
produced equally in ovaries and adrenal glands in females
low levels associated with reduced sexual desire in both genders
Testosterone Replacement Therapy - ANSWER improves desire and functioning
in both males and females with low levels
not helpful for individuals with normal levels
Castration - ANSWER removal of testes
Complete Solutions
Sexology - ANSWER scientific study of sexuality
goals: understand, predict, change change sexual behavior
Case Study - ANSWER an observation technique in which *one person* is
studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles
Self-Selection Bias - ANSWER people who volunteer for sex research are *more
likely to be sexually experienced* and *sexually liberal* than the general
population
Self-Report Bias (response issue) - ANSWER data often influenced by
tendencies towards *social desirability*
Social Desirability - ANSWER need to respond in socially appropriate ways
Experimental Designs - ANSWER involves *manipulation* of one or more
variables to investigate *causation*
Questionnaires - ANSWER can involve T/F, Multiple Choice, or free-answer
questions
advantages:
-generally *cheaper/more practical* than interviews
-can get *higher response rates* due to less embarrassing format
-less subject to *researcher biases*
disadvantages:
-also subject to *self-report bias*
-subjects can *skip uncomfortable questions*
Direct Observation - ANSWER observing behavior as it occurs
advantages:
-much more *accurate*/less subject to bias than self-report data
disadvantages:
-subject to *reactivity*
-not practical to use *random sampling*
,-can be *costly*
National Health and Social Life Survey - ANSWER *first large-scale population-
based survey on sexual attitudes/practices* conducted in the U.S.
Representative sample, unlike Kinsey Report
Conducted in 1992 with approx. 3,500 respondents.
Experimental Groups and Control Groups - ANSWER *Experimental
group*:subjects who *receive the intervention*
*Control group*:subjects who *do not receive the intervention*
-compared to the experimental group to see if the intervention produced a
difference
Computer-Assisted Self-Interview - ANSWER data collection where respondent
fills out *questionnaires on computer*
National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior - ANSWER a national survey of
sexual behavior in the US, based at Indiana University and published in 2010
(*sexual experiences and condom-use behaviors*)
Challenges of Sex Research - ANSWER -*privacy of sexual behavior*-renders
discussion uncomfortable/observation
-links to *emotional/moral issues*
-discomfort with the topic of sexual behavior produces *high nonresponse rates*
to requests for participation in sex research
Representative Sample - ANSWER *randomly selected* sample of subjects *from
a larger population* of subjects
gives *confidence* in findings
Demographic Bias - ANSWER much sex research is conducted in *middle-class
college communities*
Retrospective Self-Report - ANSWER (asking about *behavior in past*) tends to
be *unreliable* as *memories degrade with time*
Interviews - ANSWER can be structured or unstructured
advantages:
-allows for more *flexibility* than questionnaires
,-with *good rapport, can get better information*
disadvantages:
-subject to *self-report bias* and *interview biases*
-interpresonal format may be too *uncomfortable* for respondents
-tend to be *costly and time consuming*
Penile Strain Gauge - ANSWER a device for measuring sexual arousal through
changes in penile circumference
Reactivity - ANSWER process by which behavior changes because it is being
measured
(may not generalize to population)
Peer-Reviewed Source - ANSWER written and evaluated by *experts in the field*
(research scientists)
Random Sample - ANSWER group chose in such a way that each member of the
population has an *equal chance of being selected*
Self-Report Bias - ANSWER data often influenced by tendencies towards *social
desirability*
Descriptive Designs - ANSWER examination of a phenomenon or group of
phenomena; *no manipulation of variables*
(surveys, interviews, questionnaires, direct observation, correlational designs
Surveys - ANSWER involves questioning a sample of people about behaviors
attitudes
(descriptive design)
Vaginal Photoplethysmograph - ANSWER a device that uses light to indirectly
measure blood flow to the vagina
Correlational Designs - ANSWER measuring two (or more) variables to
determine whether they are statistically related (vary together)
*positively correlated*: higher score on one is associated with a higher score on
the other
*negatively correlated*: a higher score on one is associated with a lower score
on the other
, advantages:
-enables you to determine if there is a *relationship between variables*
disadvantages:
-does not explain the *nature of relationship* between the variables (may be
misleading)
-does not prove causation
Randomization of Subjects - ANSWER subjects assigned in such a way that each
has an *equal chance* of ending up in *either the experimental or the control
group*
must have for experimental designs
Randomized Controlled Trials - ANSWER -Involves randomly assigning subjects
to receive one of a number of possible interventions.
-State of the art for clinical research.
Ethical Principles in Research - ANSWER DO NO HARM
-Informed consent
Informed Consent - ANSWER research subjects must be aware of:
-*what will take place* during the study
-any *risks* involved
-*freedom to withdraw* at any time
Tuskegee Syphilis Study - ANSWER -Focused on low-income African-American
men who were never told they had syphilis and were repeatedly prevented from
receiving treatment.
-To this day, has created mistrust of public health interventions.
Testosterone - ANSWER 20-40 times higher in males than females
primarily produced in testes in males, also in *adrenal glands* (located above
kidneys)
produced equally in ovaries and adrenal glands in females
low levels associated with reduced sexual desire in both genders
Testosterone Replacement Therapy - ANSWER improves desire and functioning
in both males and females with low levels
not helpful for individuals with normal levels
Castration - ANSWER removal of testes
