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Experiment: Learning to use condoms

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  • Experiment: Learning to use condoms

The following Paper 3 looks at the role of social cognitive theory in the promotion of condom use. The study is an experimental design that makes use of questionnaires to collect data.  You will find sample responses at the end of the text.

I have used this Paper 3 as part of our study of health promotion. 

Student copy

Stimulus piece

Sanderson and Yopyk (2007) carried out a study on 220 male university students to test how social cognitive theory could be applied to increase the practice of safer sex.

Participants were recruited through the use of advertisements seeking college students for a study evaluating safer sex videos. 76% of the sample had engaged in sexual intercourse in the previous 3 months.  Because of the nature of the videos that would be used in this study, as well as other differences with regard to knowledge and practice with regard to HIV prevention, data from gay or bisexual participants (n = 9) was excluded from the analysis.

The participants were randomly assigned to one of two HIV prevention video conditions or a no-treatment wait-list control condition. Both videos started with information about the rate of HIV infection in young adults, the vulnerability of college students to HIV infection, the mean number of sexual partners of college students, and low rates of condom use in college students.  The second part of the video showed a single-sex group of students discussing condom use.  In one video, the group was all male. In the other, all female. The script, however, was the same.  The group discussed how condom use shows respect for one’s sexual partner, how they could be a satisfying part of the sexual experience and how to decline sexual activity if your partner does not want to practice safe sex. The final section of each video demonstrated the correct use of a condom.

Each participant watched the video independently to avoid possible effects caused by watching it in a group.

After watching the video, the participants completed a questionnaire, asking about their history of condom use, intentions to use condoms and how confident they are in using condoms. The researchers found a higher rate of self-efficacy for condom use and intention to use condoms compared to the control group.

Three months later, the researchers asked the participants to complete a follow-up questionnaire. 85% of the original participants completed the second questionnaire. The researchers found that participants who watched either video were more likely to report having used a condom the last time they had sex with a regular partner than those in the control condition. Participants in the female video condition were somewhat more likely to report consistent condom use during the last 3 months than those in either of the other two conditions.  The results showed that participants who watched either video reported greater self-efficacy to refuse to have unprotected sex than controls.

Questions

1a. Identify the method used and outline two characteristics of the method.

The researchers used an experiment.  An experiment manipulates an independent variable and measures its effect on a dependent variable - in this case, viewing or not viewing a safe sex video (IV) on condom use (DV). Experiments also randomly allocate participants to conditions. Finally, they also attempt to control for the effect of extraneous variables. In this case, the videos were the same except for the gender of the presenters.  Additionally, the participants watched the videos alone to control for conformity effects.  Also, homosexual and bisexual participants were excluded from the data analysis.

1b. Describe the sampling method used in the study.

The sample was a volunteer (self-selected) sample. This was obtained by using advertisements. The sampling process was a bit deceptive in that they believed that they were evaluating safe sex videos.  This may mean that they were motivated in some way to do so - being interested in safer sex practices or in sexual health.  The sample was restricted to male university students - and data was excluded from participants who were not exclusively heterosexual.

1c. Suggest an alternative or additional research method giving one reason for your choice.

This study could also be done as a case study in which the men in the study would be asked to report on their sexual practice over a period of several years.  This would allow for a greater amount of data to be collected and also would increase the credibility of the findings.  A case study would use method triangulation, supplementing the questionnaires with interviews and potentially focus groups.

2. Describe the ethical considerations in reporting the results and explain ethical considerations that could be taken into account when applying the findings of the study.

When publishing the study, it is important that the information not be reported in a way that would indicate the identities of anyone in the study.  As this study looks at very private behaviour, it is important that the reporting of the data is anonymous and cannot be used in any way to embarrass or compromise the daily lives of any of the participants. It would also be important in reporting the data that the researchers do not promote their own video program as a means of promoting safe sex practices, as this could be seen as a conflict of interest. The researchers would not apply the findings; the findings could be, for example, applied on school campuses. This type of video would have to be shown only with the consent of the students. It could be considered embarrassing for some to watch, especially if shown to an unexpecting group of students.  As in the study, it would be best to provide the video for private viewing.  Any university that attempted to increase safe sex practice should not simply collect data as a means of evaluating the program at their school.  There is a danger that this data would not be protected and could lead to harm to individuals in the program. Finally, if the university wanted to have students discuss safe sex practice with regard to the videos, it would be important that the identities of the students and their reflections be kept anonymous - which may be difficult if focus groups are used. In addition, students should not be required to discuss their own sexual behaviours.

3. Discuss the possibility of generalizing the findings of the study.

The sample was a volunteer sample. The study was actually done in the city of Boston, so the sample is not even made up of students from the same university.  This means that the sample is not necessarily representative of the population from which it was drawn. As they were volunteers, this may mean that they are somehow motivated to know more about safe sex practice or are concerned about the way that safe sex education is done. The sample also excluded people who were homosexual or bisexual. Although these are minority orientations, they are still part of the general population and not including them does not reflect the population from which the sample was drawn.

The sample is also made up of university students.  This means that it may be difficult to generalize to a broader population.  The characteristics of such a sample are represented by the acronym: YAVIS - young, affluent, verbal, intelligent and social. The fact that they have a certain level of intelligence may influence the way that they interpret what they see in the videos and their understanding of the risks of unprotected sex. In addition, their position as students - being used to lectures and being taught information - means that they may be more open to the message of the videos than non-students.

Another limitation of generalizability is that it was a Western sample.  Samples taken of Western university students are considered WEIRD - that is, the students are Western, Educated, from Industrialized, Rich and Democratic countries. All of these variables could influence how open participants are to using condoms with a partner. This may not be generalizable to other cultures/countries where perhaps speaking about sex or the nature of sexual relationships may be different from the Western approach. Also, power dynamics between men and women may be different in different societies, meaning that the results may not be as generalizable.

References

Sanderson, C. A., & Yopyk, D. J. (2007). Improving condom use intentions and behavior by changing perceived partner norms: An evaluation of condom promotion videos for college students. Health Psychology, 26(4), 481-487. doi :10.1037/0278-6133.26.4.481

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