A SEX ADDICTION STUDY
Jeffery T. Mercer is the author of a research article called “Assessment of the Sex Addicts Anonymous Questionnaire: Differentiating Between the General Population, Sex Addicts, and Sex Offenders.” In this article, Mercer has taken an already existent questionnaire, which was created in order to try and differentiate between the general population, sex addicts and sex offenders, and tried improving it by making four changes to the questionnaire.
The four changes made to the questionnaire were the following:
1. Rather than having yes-or-no questions, the participants had to answer by checking off “never,” “sometimes” or “often," where “never” was worth 0 points, “sometimes” was worth 1 point and “often” was worth 2 points. This showed the participant’s level of agreement and disagreement.
The four changes made to the questionnaire were the following:
1. Rather than having yes-or-no questions, the participants had to answer by checking off “never,” “sometimes” or “often," where “never” was worth 0 points, “sometimes” was worth 1 point and “often” was worth 2 points. This showed the participant’s level of agreement and disagreement.
2. Rather than having the items asked as questions, they were changed to statements.
3. If a question had more than one part to it, it was broken down into several individual statements in order to ensure the participant would answer each one.
4. Questions concerning age, education and gender were introduced.
4. Questions concerning age, education and gender were introduced.
The research hypothesis was that this modified questionnaire would be able to differentiate between the three participating groups.
The participants, who consisted of the general population (control group) and the sex addicts and sex offenders (criterion groups), each had to answer the modified questionnaire. The participants from the control group were students and dorm residents who attend the Spalding University and the participants from the criterion groups were members from sex addict groups and sex offender groups. All participants were volunteers.
The participants, who consisted of the general population (control group) and the sex addicts and sex offenders (criterion groups), each had to answer the modified questionnaire. The participants from the control group were students and dorm residents who attend the Spalding University and the participants from the criterion groups were members from sex addict groups and sex offender groups. All participants were volunteers.
Results showed that the sex addict group scored the highest with 15.91 points and the sex offender group scored the second highest with 11.04 points.
The hypothesis was proved correct. Although, this research study only proved that the questionnaire is effective when sex addicts and sex offenders have been preidentified. We cannot conclude that this questionnaire will also be effective on people who are undiagnosed.
The hypothesis was proved correct. Although, this research study only proved that the questionnaire is effective when sex addicts and sex offenders have been preidentified. We cannot conclude that this questionnaire will also be effective on people who are undiagnosed.
Reference
Mercer, J. T. (1998): Assessment of the Sex Addicts Anonymous Questionnaire: Differentiating Between the General Population, Sex Addicts, and Sex Offenders. Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, 5(2), 107-117.
Mercer, J. T. (1998): Assessment of the Sex Addicts Anonymous Questionnaire: Differentiating Between the General Population, Sex Addicts, and Sex Offenders. Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, 5(2), 107-117.
