Chapter 1-6: Introduction to Sex Research Methodologies and Key Figures

Flashcards cover survey methods, historical figures, laboratory measures, animal models, and key findings from Kinsey and Masters & Johnson as described in the notes.

What is one major advantage of survey studies in sex research?

They collect a lot of information quickly from many people and can reach large geographic areas, often at relatively low cost.

What is a major drawback of using crowdsourcing platforms for surveys in sex research?

Bots or non-human respondents can contaminate data, requiring methods to detect and exclude them.

How can researchers detect bots or insincere respondents in surveys?

By including the same questions in slightly different ways at different points to check for consistent human answers and identify liars or bots.

What does the term ‘demand characteristics’ refer to in survey research?

Socially desirable responding, where participants try to answer in a way that makes them look good.

Who is referred to as the king of survey research in the notes?

Alfred McKenzie.

How many face-to-face interviews did Kinsey conduct, and how many did he perform personally?

Over 18,000 interviews in total; Kinsey conducted about 8,000 of them himself.

What are the two Kinsey books and their focus?

The Sexual Behavior in the Human Male (1948) and The Sexual Behavior in the Human Female (1953).

What was Kinsey’s key contribution to understanding sexual orientation?

Development of the first homosexual rating scale and the view of sexual orientation as a continuum beyond just gay or straight.

What is the Kinsey Institute known for?

Founded in 1947, affiliated with Indiana University; houses the largest collection of erotic art and archives spanning six continents and two thousand years.

What are Masters and Johnson best known for?

Pioneering laboratory-based sexual psychophysiology, mapping the sexual response cycle, and contributing to clinical sex therapy.

What are the two influential Masters & Johnson books mentioned?

Sexual Response (1966) and Human Sexual Inadequacy.

What is the sequence of the sexual response cycle described by Masters & Johnson?

Desire precedes arousal, arousal leads to plateau, then orgasm, followed by resolution; men have a refractory period.

What are the primary genital measures used in male and female sexual psychophysiology?

Penile strain gauge for men and vaginal photoplethysmograph for women.

How does the vaginal photoplethysmograph work?

A tampon-shaped device that emits light into the vagina and measures backscatter to index vaginal blood flow during arousal.

How does the penile strain gauge function?

A loop around the penis with mercury-containing rubber that expands with erection, indicating arousal strength.

What is the arousal meter used for in sexual research?

A device (mouse on a pad) that continuously tracks subjective arousal during film viewing to compare with genital arousal.

What is thermography in this research context?

Recording body heat to infer arousal; heat maps show changes in genital regions (penile and labial temperatures) during arousal.

What is functional MRI used for in sexual research?

Measuring brain activity during sexual arousal or orgasm to identify involved brain regions and compare conditions.

What is the lordosis response in rats?

The female’s receptive posture (arched back and exposed genitals) in response to male advances, used to measure sexual receptivity.

What are proceptivity and rejection behaviors in rat studies?

Proceptivity: ear-wiggling to attract the male; Rejection: actions like a swift kick to deter mating.

What is a pacing chamber in rat research?

A divided chamber with a hole in the barrier allowing the female to control the timing of mating, used to study female-driven pacing.

Why are animal models used in sex research?

They allow preclinical drug testing and investigation of receptor subtypes before human studies, helping translate findings to humans.