Human Development: Sexual Behaviors Among Adolescents

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Methodology
Population
Sampling Technique
Research Instruments
Data Collection Procedure
Time Frame
Conclusion
References

Introduction

The study examines sexual behaviors among adolescents as an important aspect of human development. The nature of sexual behaviors that adolescents exhibit has great importance to psychology because they shape the lifespan development of people. In the adolescence period, children transition from childhood into adulthood for the adolescence enables them to understand sex and sexuality as an integral component of human development. During adolescence, parents face enormous challenges as children acquire sexual information from different people and social environments, thus predisposing them to sexual activities that threaten their lives.

According to Crockett, Raffaelli, and Moilanen (2003), adolescents face challenges such as “adjusting to the altered appearance and functioning of the sexually maturing body, learning to deal with sexual desires, confronting sexual attitudes and values, experimenting with sexual behaviors, and integrating these feelings, attitudes, and experiences into a developing sense of self” (p. 371). Given these numerous challenges, it is necessary to learn where adolescents derive sexual information during adolescence. Therefore, this research proposal seeks to determine various social environments where children derive sexual information as they grow during adolescence.

Statement of the Problem

Children experience great challenges during adolescence regarding their sexuality. During adolescence, children exhibit sexual behaviors such as erotic fantasy, masturbation, girl-boy relationships, experimental sex, and sexual intercourse (Crockett, Raffaelli, & Moilanen, 2008). How children understand their sexuality influences their sexual behavior and human development. Since parents have the responsibility of guiding their children to undergo adolescence and understand their sexuality, various social environments also influence how children undergo adolescence period. Hence, understanding of various social environments where children obtain their sexual information is imperative because social environments have a profound influence on their sexual development.

Methodology

The study proposes to use a case study research design by researching about the sexual behaviors of adolescent children in a given school. A case study of sexual behaviors of adolescent children in a given school is appropriate because the school provides different social environments that influence sexual development among children. The independent variable of the research is the age of the participants, while the dependent variables are different social environments that children derive sexual information that influences their sexual development.

Social environments include parents, siblings, peers, teachers, relatives, and strangers. The case study of where children obtain their sexual information under these social environments will indicate what people have a significant influence on sexual development among children. The advantage of the case study research design is that it allows both inductive and reductive approaches in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data (Lloyd-Jones, 2003). In this view, the study of the sexual behaviors among adolescents requires deductive and inductive reasoning for the researchers to derive relevant information from the participants.

Population

The study will perform research on children in a given school who have the ages of 12 to 18 years. Children under this age bracket are suitable participants of the study because they are within the adolescence period. Since children under the adolescence period derive sexual information from different social backgrounds, the school provides a social environment where children can freely share information about their sexual experiences.

Sampling Technique

In the sampling of participants, the study will target children who are in the adolescence. The study will select 100 pupils from a given school using a simple random sampling technique. Simple random sampling is advantageous because it reduces the business of selection and enhances the external validity of the data generated (Levy & Lemeshow, 2011). For the sake of gender balance, the study will select 50 male and 50 female pupils who will participate in the study.

Research Instruments

In the case study, the research will utilize questionnaires to collect information from the participants. The questionnaires will have questions regarding how participants have gained sexual information or experienced sexual activities, which have shaped their understanding of sexuality and the development of certain sexual behaviors. To derive relevant information, the questionnaires will contain both closed and open-ended questions that the participants can easily understand and answer appropriately.

Data Collection Procedure

The researchers will administer questionnaires to the participants in their classrooms. Prior to the administration of questionnaires, researchers will discuss with the participants concerning sexual behaviors and the essence of the research. Moreover, the researchers will dispel reservations that participants may have regarding the use of data in other purposes apart from research purposes and provide assurance of confidentiality.

Time Frame

Activities	Weeks
Activities	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Formulate research proposal
Conduct a literature review
Prepare questionnaires
Seek ethical clearance
Administer questionnaires
Analyze data collected
Complete the research
Submit the research

Conclusion

Sexual behaviors among adolescents have a significant impact on their sexual development. Since social environments influence how adolescents develop, the study seeks to establish if parents, siblings, peers, teachers, relatives, and strangers have a significant influence on sexual behavior. A case study of a certain school and the use of questionnaires as research instruments are central in the study. Moreover, the researchers will adhere to ethical principles of research as well as perform the study within a period of two months.

References

Crockett, J., Raffaelli, M., & Moilanen, L. (2003). Adolescent Sexuality: Behavior and Meaning. In G. R. Adams & M. D. Berzonsky (Eds.), Blackwell Handbook of Adolescence (pp. 371-392). Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Levy, P., & Lemeshow, S. (2011). Sampling of Populations: Methods and Applications. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

Lloyd-Jones, G. (2003). Design and Control Issues in Qualitative Case Study Research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 2(2), 1-19.

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