PSY 306 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Artificiality, Sexology, Kinsey Reports
Document Summary
Chapter 2 sex research: methods and problems. The goals of sexology: sexology study of sexuality, with the goals of understanding, predicting, and controlling or influencing the events of the subject matter. Examines a single subject or a small group of subjects, each of whom is studied individually and in depth: flexibility in data- gathering procedures, in-depth explorations of behaviors, thoughts, and feelings. Researchers observe and record responses of participating subjects. Direct observation: direct observation method of research in which subjects are observed as they go about their activities, usually not used in sexology since human sexual expression is highly private and personal. The experimental method: experimental research research conducted in precisely controlled laboratory conditions so that subjects" reactions can be reliably measured. Allows for researchers to draw more accurate conclusions about causal relationships. Subjects may be adversely influenced or biased by the artificiality of laboratory settings and knowing they are in an experiment.