One who studies 

human sexuality. Sexologists 

may come from various 

disciplines, including biology, 

medicine, psychology, sociology, 

anthropology, and criminology. 

Many sexologists are also 

therapists or educators.

 The extent to which 

fndings accurately refect the 

concept that they are intended 

to measure.

 The extent to which 

the measurement of a test is 

consistent and accurate over 

time.

 The group of 

individuals being studied.

 A subset of individuals 

in the population.

Random Sample

(also called a Probability Sample)

 A sample in 

which each member of the 

population has an equal 

probability of participating.

 A 

sample that has similar character-

istics (such as age, sex, ethnicity, 

education) as the population 

from which it was drawn.

 A sample 

that is not necessarily representative

of the population, but 

that is easily accessible to the 

researcher.

 The tendency for 

some members of the population

to be over-represented and 

others to be excluded from a 

sample.

 The tendency 

for those who volunteer for 

research to be diferent in some 

way from those who refuse to 

participate.

 A systematic

approach to gathering 

information and evaluating the 

fndings.

 A scientifc collection 

of data from people regarding 

their attitudes, beliefs, and 

behaviors.

 An in-depth study 

of an individual or individuals, 

rather than a study that looks at 

a sample of the population.

 To suppose that 

a specifc example applies to the 

general public.

 The view that knowledge 

comes through experience and 

observation.

 A study in 

which the investigators do not 

manipulate the conditions, but 

only observe subjects in a 

particular situation and record 

and interpret the outcome.

 The 

researcher participates in the 

events being studied.

 A device 

that indirectly measures blood 

fow in the penis.

 A device that uses light 

to indirectly measure blood fow 

to the vagina.

 The effect 

that the presence of the 

observer has on a subject’s 

behavior.

 A controlled test 

or investigation, designed to 

examine the validity of a 

hypothesis. Also, the act of 

conducting an investigation. An 

experiment is the only way in 

which a cause-and-efect 

relationship can be determined.

 A proposed explanation for 

facts or observations.

 Anything that can vary 

or change, such as an attitude or 

a behavior.

 The 

variable that is manipulated in 

an experiment.

 The 

variable that is observed and 

measured and that may change 

as a result of manipulations to 

the independent variable.

 The group of 

subjects who are not exposed to 

the independent variable.

 An 

inactive substance that 

resembles the treatment you 

are testing.

 A research 

study that involves repeated 

observations of the same group 

of subjects over a long period of 

time. This usually involves 

surveys or observations rather 

than experiments that deter-

mine causal relationships.

 A process by which a subject 

confirms his or her willingness to participate in a 

study after having been informed about potential 

risks and benefts.

 Discretion in keeping information 

secret.

 An experimental procedure

in which the 

subjects do not know if they 

have received the treatment 

being tested.

 An 

experimental procedure in 

which neither the investigator 

nor the subjects know who is in 

the experimental group and who 

is in the control group.

 A causal, complementary,

parallel, or reciprocal 

relationship between two 

variables.

 When one variable 

causes the other.

 The methods, 

procedures, and techniques 

used to gather information.

 The 

means by which experts in the 

field check the quality of a 

research study.

 The original 

publication of a scientist’s data, 

results, and theories.

 An 

argument that focuses on 

matters unrelated to the facts 

of the issue.

 An argument that 

doesn’t provide sufcient 

evidence to support its 

conclusion.

 The practice of 

regarding one’s own experiences 

or opinions as most important.