Can We Call It Satisfaction If It Measures Something Else? An In-Depth Exploration of a Sexual Satisfaction Measure Using Modern Validity Theory. Study 2.Â
Principal Investigator
Dr. Pablo Santos-Iglesias, PhDÂ
Associate Professor
Department of PsychologyÂ
Cape Breton UniversityÂ
1-902-563-1276
pablo_santos@cbu.ca
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Research AssistantÂ
Madison Storm
Cape Breton UniversityÂ
cbu21fzb@cbu.ca
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What is this about and what will I have to do?
Sexual satisfaction is an important component of sexual well-being and quality of life. Our ability to conclude sexual satisfaction depends on our ability to measure this variable accurately. In this study, we will ask you a few questions about your sexual satisfaction and sex life. If you agree to participate in this study, you will be asked questions about yourself (e.g., age, gender, relationship status), as well as about your sexual satisfaction, sexual function, and relationship satisfaction. You will also be asked a few simple questions throughout this survey to ensure the quality of your responses. You can complete the survey in any location that is convenient to you. As some questions may be sensitive, you may wish to complete the survey in a private location. Doing so will also help to ensure that you answer the survey questions as accurately and honestly as you can. This questionnaire should take about 10 minutes to complete.Â
Who is doing this research?Â
This study is being conducted by a research team led by Dr. Pablo Santos-Iglesias, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Psychology at Cape Breton University (Nova Scotia, Canada).
Why should I participate?Â
Firstly, you may find your participation in this study to be an intrinsically enjoyable experience. Furthermore, through your participation in this study, you will benefit from the knowledge that you have contributed to the creation of important basic research; this research will be used in the future to inform and educate other researchers and professionals. You will be helping to advance our theoretical understanding of sexual satisfaction.Â
What will I get for participating?Â
To compensate you for the time taken to complete this questionnaire, you will be given a £1.6 (~$2 US) reward directly payable to your Prolific account.
How do you keep my information private and confidential?
All information collected during this study will remain completely anonymous. The questionnaire that you complete will not require you to indicate any identifying information. Furthermore, the information collected using this questionnaire will be securely stored in a password-protected laptop and the hard drive inside a locked cabinet, only accessible to members of the research team. Data recorded through LimeSurvey is stored on Canadian soil. The demographic information collected in the questionnaire is not detailed enough for you to be personally identified. Once you complete the questionnaire, your information will be combined with that of the other participants, and only these grouped responses will be analyzed by the researchers. Therefore, information published will concern the results of the group, and not of any individual.Â
What are my rights as a participant in this study?
Your participation in this study is completely voluntary. If at any time you feel you do not want to continue for any reason, you are free to withdraw. You may choose to pause or end your participation in this study at any time without having to provide a reason. You may also choose not to answer any specific question present on the questionnaire, and in doing so, will still be able to complete the remainder of the survey.Â
Why may I not want to do it?
While we do not believe that you will be made uncomfortable during your participation in this study, some people are embarrassed by answering questions about sex. Please remember that if you feel uncomfortable answering a specific question, you may skip that question with no consequences. If at any time you feel uncomfortable during the questionnaire and do not wish to complete it, you may stop.Â
How do I find out about the results of this study?
A summary of the group-level results of this study will be made available on the primary researcher’s website (www.mysexhealth.weebly.com) once the study has closed for participation and the data is analyzed. Moreover, you may contact the researchers listed above to personally receive the group-level results of the study. This project is on file with the Research Ethics Board at Cape Breton University (REB #2023096). If you have any questions or concerns about your rights or treatment as a participant, please contact:
For example, if you have been with your primary partner for two and a half years, you write - Year(s): 2, Month(s): 6
]]>Some of these questions may not apply to your genital anatomy, if that is the case, select N/A and move on to the next question.
]]>By clicking ‘YES’, I am agreeing that:
By clicking YES, IÂ have been informed of the purpose of this research and give my consent to participate in this study.
By clicking NO, I do not consent to participate in this study
]]>Based on the text you read above, what colour have you been asked to enter?
]]>Based on the text you read above, what colour have you been asked to enter?
]]>Based on the text you read above, what colour have you been asked to enter?
]]>Sexual satisfaction is an important component in people’s lives because it is associated with a wide range of positive outcomes, such as greater relationship satisfaction (Holmberg, Blair, & Phillips, 2010), physical and psychological health (Laumann et al., 2006), as well as overall well-being and quality of life (Stephenson & Meston, 2011; Thompson et al., 2011). The Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction is a scale frequently used to assess sexual satisfaction in research studies. Despite its frequent use in the sexual satisfaction literature, most studies have not examined its psychometric properties carefully, mostly using an outdated research approach. This research provides an in-depth exploration of the GMSEX metric properties using a contemporary approach to determine the accuracy of the scores to assess sexual satisfaction.Â
If you are interested in learning more about sexual satisfaction and the Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction, you might be interested in reading the following articles:
•   Quinn-Nilas, C. (2022). Time for a measurement check-up: Testing the Couple’s Satisfaction Index and the Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction using structural equation modeling and item response theory. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 40(7), 2252-2276.Â
•   Santos-Iglesias, P. (2022). Test and measurement in sexology research: A critical approach. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 19(8), P1225-1227.
If you would like to find out about the results of this study, a summary will be posted at www.mysexhealth.weebly.com once the study is completed, or you can contact Dr. Pablo Santos-Iglesias, Associate professor at Cape Breton University, pablo_santos@cbu.ca; +1 902-563-1276.
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Any concerns about your rights or treatment as a participant, please contact:
•   Co-chair of the Research Ethics Board at CBU, Bishakha Mazumdar (bishakha_mazumdar@cbu.ca).
•   Co-chair of the Research Ethics Board at CBU, Tracey Harris (tracey_harris@cbu.ca).
•   Research Ethics Board administrator at CBU, Jared Walters (ethics@cbu.ca).
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Best Health State
]]>Extremely Satisfied
]]>Highly desirable
]]>Very Good
]]>Very Pleasant
]]>Very Positive
]]>Very Satisfying
]]>Very Valuable
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