Males' Perception of Masculinity & Pornography - Research Paper

Introduction

The purpose of this chapter is to focus on the research method employed to try and answer the study question of how the viewing of pornography by males affects their perception of what masculinity is and what it means to be a man. The chapter describes the research approach, procedure, and design used to achieve the study's objectives.

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Research Design

The primary function of the research design is to effectively establish the research answers as detailed as possible without creating ambiguity. In this section, procedures for selecting study participants, data collection, and data analysis are described. The research design employed in this study was the use of semi-structured and one on one interview for data collection.

Research Procedures

Procedures refer to a detailed manner in which a plan of action is designed and scheduled. Therefore, the researcher is tasked with developing a research procedure that will enable the researcher to obtain findings that will allow answering the study questions.

After the target group for the research was identified, the participants were contacted in advance. The objectives and goals of the study were explained to them and requested to sign the consent form if they wished to participate in the study. Then the date and location were scheduled for the actual interview. The respondents were handed a copy of the interview plan to review. One week to the interview, the respondents were contacted again to confirm the date, location, and to find out if they would be able to make it for the interview.

A pilot study was conducted before the actual research on two respondents for several reasons. First, to ensure there is no risk or loss of meaning as a result of imposing only one way of conducting or asking questions. Secondly, to allow for restructuring and changing items. To ensure the questions are open as possible to avoid short answers of yes/no as they may appear rehearsed. Since one of the objectives of the study is establish what expectations males have on when it comes to relationships, the pilot helped to design questions that allowed the participants respond to their values, culture, values, beliefs, and attitudes, which are part of the underlying basis of the study. The pilot also helped to structure questions that the respondents may feel comfortable in answering as most people would not be satisfied with direct questions on pornography and masculinity. The pilot was crucial in determining the various ways to establish a good rapport with the respondents due to the topic's sensitivity being discussed.

Research Methods

Due to the sensitivity of the type of research being conducted, semi-structured interviewing emerged as the most suitable method of collecting the data due to several reasons. Semi-structured interviews allow for questions to be [prepared ahead of the actual day of study; hence I, as the interviewer I may seem knowledgeable and competent. Semi-structured interviews allow the respondents the freedom to express their views in their way. Semi-structured interviews encourage face-to-face communication, enabling the respondents to ask questions and seek clarification about the research, which might come in handy. Semi-structured interviewing allows for the discussion of sensitive matters, and the answers obtained might not just be answers as the respondents might also give out reasons for some answers. Semi-structured interviews offer flexibility as the researcher can change the order of questions and even eliminate problems that may seem redundant or depending on the individual respondent. It allows the respondents to tell their tales and experience in their own words hence elicit detailed information that may prove useful.Tools Used

Due to the flexibility that semi-structured interviews have, there was a need to capture accurately; hence the use of a tape recorder was used accompanied by a notebook for taking down main points.

Location of the Study

The interview with the respondents' permission took place in their homes as they felt comfortable talking about such a sensitive topic at the comfort of their own home. The location was ideal as it offered a site where it provided privacy and was also free from interruption and was quiet enough to record the interview and hear the respondent.

Duration of the Interview

There was no structured time on duration as it varied from the respondent to respondent. Some responded gave long explanations and took great moments before answering; hence the interview took longer. Other respondents were quick and gave short reasons, thus taking a shorter time. On average, the interview took 15 to 20 minutes as with a more extended interview. It had the potential to create monotony and wearing down of the respondents, thus affecting the way and manner of giving responses.

Recording of the Interview

An audio recording was used as it allows for concentration on the interview and building a good rapport. Tape recording also allows for better reference as the exact words can be replayed. Note-taking was also taken for modification and reflective memos.

Limitations

Due to the broad scope of the research study, samples from the initially planned number of participants reduced from 80 to 50. The reduction was due to the time limits of the planned schedule of the study and resources available. Hence the study was limited by the number of participants.

Sampling

Sampling refers to the use of a representative in place of a whole population, since he/she may not be able to study the entire community. When a representative sample is used, the researcher is allowed to draw inferences about the general population. Hence, if a fact established about a particular instance, the reality is likely right about the general population.

Qualitative research mainly employs a non-probability sampling method, in which the probability of a participant selection for the study is unknown. The representation of the participant to the general population is also unknown. Nonprobability sampling is ideal when conducting survey research or during the pilot study before performing the actual examination. Researchers use mainly four nonprobability sampling techniques. These include snowball samples, purposive sampling, quota samples, and convenience samples.

Snowball sampling relies on the identity of a participant known by the researcher, who is tasked with identifying more additional participants, and the process goes on and on until it becomes large. In quota sampling, the researcher creates homogeneous groups from which he selects a participant to represent the population. The convenience sampling method depends on the availability of conveniently available participants. Purposive sampling relies on the judgment of the researcher in selecting the participants. It focuses on a particular trait of the population.

Sampling Method

While conducting the research, convenience sampling is employed in the selection of participants. This method was chosen because the relative time and cost of finding participants are low compared with other methods. Secondly, the technique is comfortable and has few rules with the collection of data. Lastly, the method reduces judgment within a particular category, eliminating the problem of generalization and representativeness.

Study Population

The participant selection process had to be in line with the conceptual framework of the study. Participants were selected using fundamental selection principles that include the following; a small number of participants chosen purposefully and studied intensively, the conceptual framework guides the selection, and the process follows a sequence.

The study was about how pornography viewing by males affects the perception of masculinity, and the objectification of women, mostly male respondents, was used for the study. The respondents chosen had to meet specific criteria to allow for participation in the study. The respondents first had to have experience viewing pornography or at least have knowledge of pornography or people he knew who watched pornography. Secondly, the respondents had to assure that he was willing and readily available at the interview's set date. The focus group of the study was male's age ranging from 13 years to 35 years. Due to the topic discussion's sensitive nature, the respondents below the age of 18 years, we had to seek consent from their parents for the study.

Number of Participants

In conducting qualitative research, professionals argue that there is no definite answer on how large or small the number of respondents an investigation should have. The sample size should depend on the study's scope of review, complexity, and accessibility on the nature of the topic, data quality, and study methods.

In determining the number of participants to be involved in the study, the process may require thoughtful decision making. A small number of participants may lead to research with shallow content. A large number of participants might produce too much a volume of data that may prove challenging to analyze, especially when it’s qualitative.

The sample size should be large enough to discourage the use of case-oriented analysis to predetermine findings; rather, it should be large enough to give room for the new and wealthy content material. Interviews should conduct interviews on not more than 50 people to give time for the data analysis, since with a larger number of interviews such as 800 people will take a lot of time and resources, in which and most of the information might be redundant. To avoid redundancy saturation method should be employed, where the new data being collected presents no further information such as themes or codes, the focus shifts to other insights such as justification of sampling adequacy.

During the initial study preparation for the study, a total of 80 people were scheduled to take part in the survey, but with the piloting research, the number proved to be too large; the logistics and resources would not have accommodated all. Hence the number was reduced to 50. This number enabled the interview to be conducted and completed at the scheduled time. The number also proved vital in the data analysis stage as most of the data seemed to be repetitive in themes and responses.

Methods of Analysis

After conducting the research collection of data, the next stage involves data analysis, which involves statistical methods in analyzing. The type of statistical methods that a researcher can employ depends on the type of data collected, study methods, questions, and objectives of the study.

Qualitative Data analysis is the process by which data is systematically collected by researchers, classified into smaller fragments according to the themes or codes they represent to create meaning and enable interpretation. The categorization and summarization process is crucial as it establishes patterns, relationships, connections, and themes for easier linking and identification.

Qualitative data is mainly in the form of words, images, and sometimes symbols, hence obtaining clear and straightforward meaning in information is extremely difficult, thus its use in explanatory research. The main reason for qualitative analysis is for the interpretation of data and the emerging theme to aid in the understanding of the issue studied.

Qualitative research analyzes data using various methods such as content analysis, narrative analysis, discourse analysis, and grounded theory. Content analysis involves the use of stored informatio...