Most of our information about human sexuality has been obtained from a second important research method, the survey, in which people are asked about their sexual experiences or attitudes. The survey method enables researchers to collect data from a large number of people, usually more than can be studied in a clinical setting or in the laboratory. Surveys can be conducted orally, through face-to-face or telephone interviews, or through paper-and-pencil questionnaires. Computerized interviews are also used to gather information about sexual behaviors and other sensitive topics. We will discuss this technological aid to sex research later in this chapter.
Although the methods of conducting written and oral surveys are somewhat different, their intent is the same. Each tries to use a relatively small group, called the survey sample, to draw inferences or conclusions about a much larger group with a particular characteristic (called a target population). Examples of target populations are married adults and high school adolescents.