Another hypothesis recalled in this study is that relationship status would vary the attitude – risk relation, this is vital for the design within prevention.
To understand attitudes and sexual risk within relationships a well studied variable had to be explored this was sexual sensation seeking. “This refers to the tendency to prefer ‘exciting, optimal and novel stimulation or arousal’” (Kalichman et al 1994)
Alcohol, drug use and the rate of unprotected sex among gay men has a strong link with sexual sensation seeking. (D.Franceisco et al, 1996; Kalichman et al, 1994, 1998b; Lye Chng & Geliga – Vargus, 2000)
The researchers also hypothesized that primary and non-primary partners sexual risk behaviours are associated with both sexual sensation seeking reduced concern about HIV.
Furthermore the last hypothesis made in this study was that the variables would have different effect due to the participants being members of sexually exclusive or non-exclusive relationships.
“It is our belief that these groups represent distinct populations of gay men who require divergent preventative interventions.”
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The theory of this study was about the reduction of concern within HIV infections, which increased sexual behaviour within gay men who weren’t in relationships that weren’t sexually exclusive.
“Gay men who establish rules within their relationships that prohibit sexual activity outside of the primary relationships presumably are less motivated to release themselves from sexual restraint.”
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As the participants are not seeking a rationale to engage in risky sexual behaviour they are less affected by reduced concern about HIV.
The aim of this study was to investigate and explore gay primary relationships which are coherent with sexual risk dynamics, also stated that exclusive sexual behaviour was a vital process for the effect of risky attitudes on unsafe intercourse.
The last hypothesis stated aboive in a one-tailed hypothesis. One tailed hypothesis is when the direction change is specified.
The participants for this study were self-identified gay and bisexual men. 492 men were given a brief anonymous survey during a gay street fair held in Chicago for two-days. Forty seven percent of the participants were in a primary sexual relationship. Up to sixteen percent of the participants indicated that they were HIV – positive.
“Participants mean age was 36.4 years, 77% identified themselves as European American, while 11%, 5% and 1% identified themselves as African American, Latino and Asian/Pacific Islander, respectively. Thirty-five percent indicated they were involved in a sexually exclusive relationship, while fifty-four percent defined their relationship as sexually non-exclusive. Participants were well educated with 93% reporting at least some college level course work or above”
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The method used in this study was a survey. It consisted of attitudes towards HIV and sexual behaviour, HIV sero status information and sexual behaviour, sexual sensation seeking and demographics questions.
Surveys are lists of questions. This is the main way to gather information in social surveys. The person answering the questions is asked to fill in the questionnaire; this is known as a self-completion questionnaire. They are sometimes read out by an interviewer this is known as a structured interview. In theory questionnaires produce data which can be compared. Everybody is answering exactly the same questions and is therefore responding to the same thing. Any differences in the answers will therefore reflect real differences between the respondents.
Surveys are designed to measure things, to do this those ‘things’ must be operationalised ie- put in a form which allows them to be measured. Operationalising concepts is difficult, especially when researchers themselves can not agree on their meaning. Often concepts are operationalised in different ways in different studies which means the results are difficult to compare. The problem with comparability becomes even greater when the researchers attempt to discover what participants really mean when they answer the questions.
There are two main types of questions used in questionnaires – closed and open. In closed questions the range of responses is fixed by the researcher. The respondent usually has to select one answer from tow or more give alternatives.
Closed questions are relatively easy, quick and cheap to classify and qualify. They are pre-coded in the sense that the categories are set and the respondent simply has to choose one or rank some.
An open question asks the respondent to answer a question in their own words. Open questions give the respondent more freedom but coding the responses can be difficult and time consuming.
Most researchers see closed questions as suitable for simple, factual data such as age, gender and income level. Open questions are usually seen as more suitable for data on attitudes and values where respondents are required to express how they feel. An open question allows them to say things in their own way.
Self-completion questionnaires have advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are that they are very cheap, no interviewers to pay also they are cheap to classify results. As a result, often possible to survey a large sample. It is fast and efficient analysis possible with pre-coded closed questions. Answers can be easily quantified and entered straight on to computers. Also the interviewer does not influence the respondents answers as there is no bias feeling in a survey.
The alternative method that should have been used in this study should have bee semi-structured interview: The semi structured interview is often the most successful approach, with the use of some prepared questions by the interviewer, supplemented by opportunities for the interviewee to expand the answers that have been given.
