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Chapter 2 Terms & Definitions
Human Sexuality: From Cells to Society, 1st Edition
40
Psychology
Undergraduate 2
02/10/2014

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Term
Sexologist
Definition

 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.

Term
Validity
Definition

 The extent to which 

fndings accurately refect the 

concept that they are intended 

to measure.

Term
Reliability
Definition

 The extent to which 

the measurement of a test is 

consistent and accurate over 

time.

Term
Population
Definition

 The group of 

individuals being studied.

Term
Sample
Definition

 A subset of individuals 

in the population.

Term

Random Sample

(also called a Probability Sample)

Definition

 A sample in 

which each member of the 

population has an equal 

probability of participating.

Term
Representative Sample
Definition

 A 

sample that has similar character-

istics (such as age, sex, ethnicity, 

education) as the population 

from which it was drawn.

Term
Convenience Sample
Definition

 A sample 

that is not necessarily representative

of the population, but 

that is easily accessible to the 

researcher.

Term
Sampling Bias
Definition

 The tendency for 

some members of the population

to be over-represented and 

others to be excluded from a 

sample.

Term
Volunteer Bias
Definition

 The tendency 

for those who volunteer for 

research to be diferent in some 

way from those who refuse to 

participate.

Term
Research Methods
Definition

 A systematic

approach to gathering 

information and evaluating the 

fndings.

Term
Surveys
Definition

 A scientifc collection 

of data from people regarding 

their attitudes, beliefs, and 

behaviors.

Term
Case Study
Definition

 An in-depth study 

of an individual or individuals, 

rather than a study that looks at 

a sample of the population.

Term
Generalization
Definition

 To suppose that 

a specifc example applies to the 

general public.

Term
Empiricism
Definition

 The view that knowledge 

comes through experience and 

observation.

Term
Direct Observation
Definition

 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.

Term
Participant Observation
Definition

 The 

researcher participates in the 

events being studied.

Term
Penile Plethysmograph
Definition

 A device 

that indirectly measures blood 

fow in the penis.

Term
Vaginal Photoplethysmograph 
Definition

 A device that uses light 

to indirectly measure blood fow 

to the vagina.

Term
Observer Effects
Definition

 The effect 

that the presence of the 

observer has on a subject’s 

behavior.

Term
Experiment
Definition

 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.

Term
Hypothesis
Definition

 A proposed explanation for 

facts or observations.

Term
Variable
Definition

 Anything that can vary 

or change, such as an attitude or 

a behavior.

Term
Independent Variable
Definition

 The 

variable that is manipulated in 

an experiment.

Term
Dependent Variable
Definition

 The 

variable that is observed and 

measured and that may change 

as a result of manipulations to 

the independent variable.

Term
Control Group
Definition

 The group of 

subjects who are not exposed to 

the independent variable.

Term
Placebo
Definition

 An 

inactive substance that 

resembles the treatment you 

are testing.

Term
Longitudinal Study
Definition

 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.

Term
Informed Consent
Definition

 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.

Term
Confidentiality
Definition

 Discretion in keeping information 

secret.

Term
Single Blind Study
Definition

 An experimental procedure

in which the 

subjects do not know if they 

have received the treatment 

being tested.

Term
Double Blind Study
Definition

 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.

Term
Correlation
Definition

 A causal, complementary,

parallel, or reciprocal 

relationship between two 

variables.

Term
Causation
Definition

 When one variable 

causes the other.

Term
Methodology
Definition

 The methods, 

procedures, and techniques 

used to gather information.

Term
Peer Review Process
Definition

 The 

means by which experts in the 

field check the quality of a 

research study.

Term
Primary Source
Definition

 The original 

publication of a scientist’s data, 

results, and theories.

Term
Fallacy of Relevance
Definition

 An 

argument that focuses on 

matters unrelated to the facts 

of the issue.

Term
Fallacy of Insufficient Evidence
Definition

 An argument that 

doesn’t provide sufcient 

evidence to support its 

conclusion.

Term
Egocentrism
Definition

 The practice of 

regarding one’s own experiences 

or opinions as most important.

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