Internet-Based Sexuality Research
n 2000 it was estimated that two-thirds of Americans used the Internet, and this number continues to grow today (A. C. Nielsen, 2000). It is estimated that the average Internet user in the United States spends 3 hours per day online (Markoff, 2004). The popularity of the Internet has led to an increase in Internet-based social science research (Baron & Siepmann, 2000), and sexuality researchers have been relying on the Internet for data collection in many of their studies (Mustanski, 2001). The accessibility and sense of anonymity of the web have given sexuality researchers access to a wider group of diverse participants.
However, there are disadvantages and risks to Internet — based sexuality research. As in other research methods, participants can lie and sabotage research. Because surveys are anonymous, participants could submit multiple responses. To lessen the possibility of this happening, researchers could collect e-mail addresses to check for multiple submissions, but this would negate participants’ anonymity. One study that checked for multiple submissions found that participants rarely submitted more than one response (Reips, 2000).
Although as much as 75% of Americans have access to the Internet (Markoff, 2004), some caution that Internet users are not representative of all Americans—a variety of minorities are not well represented, nor are those with low socioeconomic status or education (NTIA & USDC, 1999). Wealthier, Caucasian, and better-educated individuals are well represented on the Internet, and this can bias research results. However, some researchers claim that even though these differences exist, the participants pool available online may be more representative of the general population than a group of typical college students (who are the most common research participants; Mustanski, 2001; Reips & Bachtiger, 2000).
Finally, one more concern is that minors may access Internet-based sexuality research studies. However, researchers must ask for informed consent, and participants must agree that they are over the age of 18 before participating.
Even with these cautions, however, Internet-based sexuality research is a dynamic and exciting new frontier for sexuality researchers. It is anticipated that more studies will be done using web-based research methodology in the future.
Source: Mustanski (2001).
Societal influences affect all aspects of sexuality. Throughout this book we will explore more details from cross-cultural studies on sexuality and examine how cultures vary from each other.