Theories About Sexuality
Psychological Theories Biological Theory Evolutionary Theory Sociological Theories Feminist Theory Queer Theory
■ SEX IN REAL LIFE What Questions Would They Ask?
Sexuality Research: Philosophers, Physicians,
and Sexologists
Early Sex Research Recent Studies on Sexuality Sexuality Researchers Early Promoters of Sexology Sexuality Research Moves to the United States
■ PERSONAL VOICES The Death of Alfred Kinsey Research Studies on Homosexuality
Other Sexuality Studies Age-Specific Studies: Teens and Seniors Sex Research Methods and Considerations Case Studies
Questionnaire Versus Interview Direct Observation Participant Observation
Experimental Methods Correlations
■ SEX IN REAL LIFE Kiss and fell
Problems and Issues in Sex Research
Ethical Issues Volunteer Bias Sampling Problems Reliability
Sexuality Research Across Cultures
■ HUMAN SEXUALITY IN A DIVERSE WORLD The Pfizer Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors
■ HUMAN SEXUALITY IN A DIVERSE WORLD Internet-Based Sexuality Research
Sex Research in the Future: Beyond Problem-Driven Research
Chapter Review
Chapter Resources
Sexuality Now Go to www. thomsonedu. com to link to SexualityNow, your online study tool.
ом might wonder why reviewing theory and research in a sexuality text — book is important. Because theories guide our understanding of sexuality, and research helps answer our many questions, learning how theories are formulated and research is pursued will give you insight into the information that is provided in the chapters to come. Recently I asked my students to imagine that they were sexuality researchers who were designing a new study. What topic would they be interested in studying? Students have a wide range of interests: some wanted to examine gender differences; others were interested in specific aspects of sexual behavior. If you were to do a study in some area of sexuality, what would you be most interested in?
How should you frame your questions? Do you need to understand theory to decide what you are interested in? Once you have decided your area of interest, what comes next? How is a research study done? What are some of the obstacles to doing sexuality research, and how can these difficulties be avoided?
The results of sexuality studies seem to appear everywhere today—in magazines, newspapers, and on television. But how do you know whether the research is reliable, that it has been carried out properly? In this chapter, we will explore both the major theories and the research methods that underlie the study of sexuality. We will also examine information on some of the most influential sexuality studies that have been done. Theoretical development and ongoing research combine to provide a foundation on which to build further understanding of sexuality.