How Do College Students React to Sexual Freedom : a Study

RUNNING HEAD: Research Proposal

Research Project Proposal
Peter Clarkson
Barton College

Table of Contents
PG. 3 – Lit Review
PG. 6 – Abstract
PG. 6 – Methodology
PG.7 – Results
PG. 9 – Discussion
PG.10 – Reference List
PG. 13 – Appendix A
PG. 15 – Appendix B

How do college students react to sexual freedom and are they practicing safe sex?
Literature Review The articles reviewed for the study covered the following topics: AID’s, sexual behavior of college students, heterosexual cohabitation of unmarried college students, dynamics of sexual behavior of college students, and the correlation between alcohol and risky sexual behavior among college students. Concern with AID’s and the Sexual Behavior of College Students discussed whether college students had knowledge of AID’s and how it spreads and sexual behavior among college students divided up in to categories such as religion, race, level of education of parents, and sex. The study concluded that “the students in this sample express widespread concern about AID’s” (Carroll, 1988). Furthermore, Heterosexual Cohabitation among Unmarried College Students was research conducted as “ an initial exploration of unmarried cohabitation as experienced by female students at Cornell University, and includes a description of the nature of the relationship, the reasons for involvement, and attendant problems and benefits” (Macklin, 1972).This research utilized a questionnaire with most questions being interpreted through a Likert scale. The research concluded that out of the 29 females who participated 23 of them were in relationships with the male they were living with for at least 13 months. Following that is the research named Sexual Knowledge of College Students in a Southern State: Relationship to Sexuality Education was conducted to show the knowledge of HIV/AID’s and STD sexuality education among students attending four Louisiana state universities. The research correlated the sexual education with race, sex, residence (whether they lived in the dorms or off campus), and if and when did they have sexual education during grade school. The research showed that females had more knowledge on the topic of contraception, Caucasian’s had more sexual knowledge than African American students, sexual knowledge increased with level of college, sexual knowledge was least in those with no sexual education, and it also showed that the sexual education was effective in increasing the students knowledge of contraception and sexual responsibility (Synovitz, Herbert, Kelley, & Gerald, 2002). The article titled The Dynamics of Sexual Behavior of College Students entails research, conducted with students at the University of Colorado, that showed physical attractiveness ratings of pictures and a questionnaire that measure the level and frequency of sexual activity of the subject. The findings of the research were that there were no changes in the sexual activity from semester to semester and showed the conclusion that there was an equal amount of sexual activity among both men and women (Katts, 1970). This is also connected to the research entitled Alcohol Use and Risky Behavior among College Students and Youth: Evaluating the Evidence was designed to “evaluate the empirical associations between alcohol use and risky sex at two levels of analysis” (Cooper, 2002). The research evaluated the majority of the young people (75% of the boys and 60% of the girls) have “had sex by the time they graduate high school, and the majority of those who have not will have their first sexual experience in college” (Cooper, 2002). In the article, Concern with AIDS and the Sexual Behavior of College Students, we learned that the AIDS epidemic caused concern and decline amongst college students. This is also incorporated with a research study done by the University of Colorado that states that about 72% of students thought that premarital coitus was acceptable. This study was done in 1967. 40 years later, most students are increasingly more liberal than they were at that time. This leads us to believe that students today are even more tolerable of premarital coitus. All of these articles are associated with my research topic in that they relate to the sexual aspects among college students, as well as the level of sexual education among that population.

Abstract The question asked by this study was “How do college students react to sexual freedom and are they practicing safe sex? “. There was a correlation suggested by the study that if a person has some form of sexual education in grade school, then they will practice safe sex methods in their college life. This studies result seems to conform with my hypothesis. The purpose of this study is to examine college student’s attitudes towards sexuality and sexual behavior.
Purpose
In doing this study, we are hoping to find useful information about the sexual knowledge and safe sex practices of students at Barton College. We are also hoping to increase awareness amongst students of what dangers are involved in being sexually active. These findings will also show the diversity of sexual preference among students at Barton College.
Methodology
The study evaluates sexual knowledge and safe sex practices of college students. The sample in the study will be a self-selected sample of convenience derived from the Barton student population. The survey was created and the research placed on surveymonkey.com. A link to the survey will be emailed to the Barton student population. We hope that the use of the online medium will be the most effective way of deriving a widespread sample. The students will be presented with an informed consent letter and the participation from will be promoted to start the survey. Once the subject reads and agrees to the informed consent form, the survey beings. The survey asks for no personal information and gives the participant the option to exit the survey at any time. Once the survey is completed and the ‘Submit’ button is clicked, the raw data will be uploaded into the SPSS program for data analysis. The survey will use a Likert Scale format for frequency of sexual behavior. There will be ordinal scales used for the differences in class rank. Demographic questions will be based on a multi-choice format.

Expected Benefits and Potential Risks Since this research will be conducted through an anonymous online survey, there will probably be neither benefits nor risks to the participants. The rights of the participants are not being infringed at any point. Participants have the option to opt out. Results There were 6 female respondents and 5 male respondents. For age 18-20 range there was 8 respondents and age 21-23 there was 3 respondents. Across the class ranks there were 3 freshman, 4 sophomore, 3 juniors, and 1 senior respondent. Before coming to college 10 of the participants has taken sex education classes and 1 of the respondents said they had no previous sexual education. 7 of the respondents did believe their sexual education was effective in teaching safe sex methods. 3 of the respondents believed their sexual education was ineffective. 1 of the respondents responded not sure. 10 of the respondents use male condoms and 3 of the respondents utilize oral contraceptives. On the schedule of use of safe sex methods 1 participant responded rarely, 4 responded every once in a while, 3 responded sometimes and 3 responded always. Of all the respondents 8 of them engage in sexual activity weekly and 3 of them engage I sexual activity monthly. 10 respondents utilize the Student Health Center for contraceptive methods and 1 respondent does not utilize the student health center. 10 respondents believed that the Student Health Center made the contraceptive methods readily available and 1 respondent was unsure.

|Sex * Do_you_use_safesex_methods |
|Count | | | | |
| | |Do_you_use_safesex_methods |
| |
|Count | | | | | |
| | |Did_you_attend_any_sexual_education_courses_before_coming_to

_Bar |
| |
|Count | | | | |
| | |Have_you_ever_utilized_the_Student_Health_Center_at_Barton_C

olle |

| |No |Response |Yes |Total | |Sex |Female |2 |0 |5 |7 | | |Male |0 |0 |5 |5 | | |Response |0 |1 |0 |1 | | |Total |2 |1 |10 |13 | |

Discussion The results of the study show a positive correlation between respondents that had sex education in grade school and the respondents who participate in safe sex practices. The results showed that all the respondents engage in sexual activity, perhaps showing that most of campus is sexually active. Many respondents participated in sex safe practices more than half the times they engaged in sexual activity. Also, the results showed that most respondents do utilize the Student Health Center. There were many disadvantages to my study. The main disadvantage in the study was the small sample size. Another disadvantage was there were no homosexual or bisexual respondents. There was also no question relating to race. Race could have been a deciding factor in contraceptive use. There also could have been more questions added to study to gain increased information about the participant and their sexual practices.

Reference List
Carroll, L. (1988, May). Concern With AID's and the Sexual Behavior of College Students. Journal of Marraige and Family , 405-411.
Cooper, M. L. (2002). Alcohol Use and Risky Behavior among College Students and Youth: Evaluating the Evidence. Journal of Studies on Alchohol , 101-115.
Katts, G. R. (1970). The Dynamics of Sexual Behavior of College Students. Journal of Marriage and Family , 390-399.
Macklin, E. D. (1972). Heterosexual Cohabitation among Unmarried College Students . The Family Corrdinator , 463-472.
Synovitz, L., Herbert, E., Kelley, R. M., & Gerald, C. (2002). Sexual Knowledge of College Student in a Souther State: Relationship to Sexuality Education. American Journal of Health Studies , 163-172.
Vamwesenbeeck, I. (2009). Doing Gender in Sex and Sex Research. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 38(6), 883-98.
Moon, D. (2008). Culture and the Sociology of Sexuality: It's Only Natural?. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 619, 183-205.
Roach, M. (2008). Probing Questions. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 54(37), B14-15.
Richardson, D. (2007). Patterned Fluidities: (Re)Imagining the Relationship between Gender and Sexuality. Sociology, 41(3), 457-74.
Zucker, K. (2007). Sexology and Epidemiology. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 36(1), 1-3.
Upchurch, D., Lillard, L., & Aneshensel, C. (2002). Inconsistencies in Reporting the Occurrence and Timing of First Intercourse Among Adolescents. The Journal of Sex Research, 39(3), 197-206.
McBride, K., & Fortenberry, J. (2010). Heterosexual Anal Sexuality and Anal Sex Behaviors: A Review. Journal of Sex Research, 47(2/3), 123-136.
Sprecher, S., Harris, G., & Meyers, A. (2008). Perceptions of Sources of Sex Education and Targets of Sex Communication: Sociodemographic and Cohort Effects. Journal of Sex Research, 45(1), 17-26.
Gute, G., Eshbaugh, E., & Wiersma, J. (2008). Sex for You, But Not for Me: Discontinuity in Undergraduate Emerging Adults' Definitions of “Having Sex”. Journal of Sex Research, 45(4), 329-337.
Robinson, V., Meah, A., & Hockey, J. (2007). Representing 'Sex' in the Research Process. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 10(3), 181-194.
McGruder, K. (2009). Black Sexuality in the U.S.: Presentations as Non-normative. Journal of African American Studies, 13(3), 251-262.
Parker, R., di Mauro, D., Filiano, B., Garcia, J., Muñoz-Laboy, M., & Sember, R. (2004). Global Transformations and Intimate Relations in the 21st Century: Social Science Research on Sexuality and the Emergence of Sexual Health and Sexual Rights Frameworks. Annual Review of Sex Research, 15370-406.
Bay-Cheng, L., & Eliseo-Arras, R. (2008). The Making of Unwanted Sex: Gendered and Neoliberal Norms in College Women's Unwanted Sexual Experiences. Journal of Sex Research, 45(4), 386-397.
Burland, J., Turner, H., & Trotter, D. (1999). Attitudes toward and definitions of having sex. JAMA, 282(20), 1916-19.
Peterson, Z., & Muehlenhard, C. (2007). What Is Sex and Why Does It Matter? A Motivational Approach to Exploring Individuals' Definitions of Sex. Journal of Sex Research, 44(3), 256-268.
Hendrick, C., Hendrick, S., & Reich, D. (2006). The Brief Sexual Attitudes Scale. Journal of Sex Research, 43(1), 76-86.
Sznitman, S., Horner, J., Salazar, L., Romer, D., Vanable, P., Carey, M., et al. (2009). Condom Failure: Examining the Objective and Cultural Meanings Expressed in Interviews With African American Adolescents. Journal of Sex Research, 46(4), 309-318.
Gaither, G., Sellbom, M., & Meier, B. (2003). The Effect of Stimulus Content on Volunteering for Sexual Interest Research Among College Students. Journal of Sex Research, 40(3), 240-248.
Kerrigan, D., Andrinopoulos, K., Johnson, R., Parham, P., Thomas, T., & Ellen, J. (2007). Staying Strong: Gender Ideologies among African-American Adolescents and the Implications for HIV/STI Prevention. Journal of Sex Research, 44(2), 172-180.

Appendix A Survey 1. Sex: Male Female 2. Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual Homosexual Bisexual 3. Age: 18-20 21-23 23-25 25 and over 4. Class Rank: a. Freshman b. Sophomore b. Junior c. Senior 5. Did you attend any sexual education courses before coming to Barton College? Yes No Not Sure 6. If yes, do you believe they were effective in teaching safe-sex methods? Yes No Other 7. Are you sexually active? Yes No N/A 8. Do you use safe-sex methods? Yes No N/A

9. If yes, which of the following do you use? (check all that apply) ___ Male Condoms ___Female Condoms ___Oral Contraceptives (Birth Control) ___ Other ___ N/A 10. How often do you use contraceptive methods? Never 1 2 3 4 5 Always N/A 11. How often do you engage in sexual activity? : Weekly Monthly 3-4 Times a Year Less than twice yearly Never 12. Have you ever utilized the Student Health Center at Barton College for contraceptive methods (condoms, female condoms, birth control)? Yes No 13. If you have utilized the Student Health Center, do you believe that contraceptive methods are readily available to you and all students at Barton College? Yes No Not Sure

Appendix B Consent Form
Title of Research Study: How do college students react to sexual freedom and are they practicing safe sex?
Principal Investigator: Peter Clarkson
Institution: Barton College

INTRODUCTION
You have been asked to participate in a research study being conducted by Peter Clarkson. This research study is designed to examine the sexual activity and contraceptive use among students at Barton College.

PLAN AND PROCEDURES
You will answer a 13 question survey that contains questions that pertain to an overview of the subjects’ sexual activeness. Some of these questions also pertain to the availability and usage of contraceptive methods at Barton College.

POTENTIAL RISKS AND DISCOMFORTS

You may find the subject matter slightly unsettling as it relates to your personal sexual activity. But, this survey is completely anonymous to protect the participants from any later discourses.

POTENTIAL BENEFITS
This study will show the level of sexual activeness on campus or the lack thereof. It also maybe presented to Barton College to show that they should increase the availability of contraceptive methods on campus.

SUBJECT PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS
The study does not as for name or anything else that is personally identifiable and is completely anonymous.

COSTS OF PARTICIPATION
There will be no cost to you, the participant, aside from the time that you invest in this study.

COMPENSATION
There is no monetary compensation for participating in this study. However, professors may offer compensation in the form of credit or extra credit for your participation in this study.

VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION
Participating in this study is voluntary. If you decide not to be in this study after it has already started, you may stop at any time without losing benefits that you should normally receive. However, you must complete the survey for you information to be applied to the research.

PERSONS TO CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS

The investigator will be available to answer any questions concerning this research, now or in the future. You may contact the investigator, Peter Clarkson via email at [e-mail]. If you have questions about your rights as a research subject, you may contact Dr. Edward Fernandes in office number in Hines Hall.

CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE

Title of research study: How do college students react to sexual freedom and are they practicing safe sex? I have read all of the above information, asked questions and have received satisfactory answers in areas I did not understand. (A copy of this signed and dated consent form will be given to the person signing this form as the participant or as the participant authorized representative.) If the above statement is true and you still voluntarily wish to participate in this study, please proceed to the survey and complete it by checking the appropriate box below and clicking the confirm button. By clicking the confirm button, you agree to the consent form. Please print a copy of this consent form for your records.