Let's Talk about Sex (Research), Baby

As you may know, there are two types of research: qualitative research and quantitative research. Qualitative research is any research where the findings do not consist of numerical data, for example: open-ended questions, interview data, observation data, document data, audio-visual data, text and image analysis, emerging methods, and themes patterns and interpretations. Whereas, quantitative research is used to help decipher trends and patterns, as well as depict relationships between different variables. This type of research is usually conducted through surveys, questionnaires and experiments in order to obtain some type of numerical data.

(source: Optimal Workshop)

After conducting some research on my own, I found one journal article titled "Mass Media Influences on Sexuality" that utilizes quantitative research to ask the questions, "Does the sexual content in the media influence how people behave sexually?" and, "Are people having sex earlier, with more partners, without protection or affection because of what they see on the media?" Although not numerical data, in order to answer these questions, the researcher had to identify trends and patterns between the mass media and the influence it has on sexual behavior, as well as conducting surveys and experiments on a sample. I enjoyed reading this journal because it utilized the agenda setting theory, the cultivation theory, and the social learning theory. This journal emphasized that studying human behavior, specifically sexual behavior, is a difficult task to do because a person's attitude and behavior can change so frequently, based on the environment they are put in.

Another journal article that I found that also studied mass media's influence on sexuality, but this time using a qualitative approach, is titled, "Adolescent Sexuality and the Media". Throughout this journal, qualitative research was utilized to determine the affects of mass media on adolescents. In a qualitative study. adolescent girls, aged 11-15, were not influenced by sexual content in mass media because they might have been too young to comprehend what they were viewing. Whereas, young women looked to the same mass media for role models of what to look like and how to act in sexual situations. Something additional to note is that researchers found that the repeated exposure of sexual content in mass media is not learned in the same way that violence and aggression are.

Between the two different methods of research, I believe that the qualitative method to be more clear. Providing the opportunity for open-ended questions allows for more thorough and detailed responses, which in turn leads to a better understanding of the research. Although analyzing a multitude of open-ended question responses can be much more difficult and time-consuming, I believe it helps lead to a much more realized final result.

(source: The OAS Center)

I grew up watching MTV. Shows like Jersey Shore and Teen Mom were playing on my television at all times. Through these types of television shows, I learned about teenage pregnancy, unprotected sex, drinking, partying and hooking up. I went through all of high school thinking hook-up culture was the norm and I honestly couldn't wait to be an adult. Mass media personally played a big part in my upbringing and taught me more than I ever learned in 10th grade Health class.

(source: YouTube)