Special Education ETDs

Publication Date

5-8-1973

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to study the changes in attitude of a group of sexually inadequate couples after a sexual therapy treatment program. This investigation utilized a three group design. The experimental group consisted of five committed couples who had sought treatment of difficulties in the sexual aspects of their relationship and had indicated some degree of inadequacy in this area on the part of one or both partners. In addition, another couple participated as a special case since no symptoms were present. The first control group consisted of six similarly sexually inadequate couples who agreed to wait or did not feel ready for the treatment program. The second control group consisted of six non-treatment couples who indicated adequate sexual functioning on the pert of both partners.

All subjects were volunteers and were roughly matched in respect to socio-economic status, age, educational background, and number of years of sustained committed relationship.

The major instrument of this investigation was Q technique, which offers a mechanically efficient method of studying measurable aspects of the seIf over a period of time.

The sexual therapy program of Caplan and Caplan was conceived of as the independent variable introduced into the lives of the experimental group. Measurement of change between the first and second application of a test battery (the Q-sort items) on the dependent variable (the changing attitudes of the experi­mental and control groups) was made immediately following the treatment program, and for the experimental group a third application was made one month later.

The data were examined in terms of product moment correlation between the scores on a given statement for any two sorts. The individuals in all groups were asked to sort the fifty items in a normal forced distribution from "most like" to "least like" in terms of their feelings about themselves and, separately, feelings about their partners at each test point. A correlational value of +1 .0 would repre­sent the hypothetical case of no change whatever, while -1 .0 would represent the maximum possible change. The significance of measurable change was analyzed by Fisher's Zr transformation applied to the pre:post and post:post:post correlations. A one-tail test of significance was applied to the normal deviate, because the nuII hypothesis predicts the direction of change: namely, toward lower correlations.

The treatment program was a short-term positive reinforcement method modeled on that of Johnson and Masters, featuring a series of one to six preliminary interviews, a three-day intensive, unique, group-oriented workshop and four follow-up sessions.

The results of testing the null hypotheses were:

  1. Participations by couples in a treatment program results in significant change in attitude toward themselves in the sexual area as measured by a Q sort. Such change was present between pre:post and post:post:posttesting and did not occur in the control groups.
  2. Participation by couples in a treatment program results in significant change in attitude toward their partners in the sexual area as measured by a Q sort. Such change was present between the pre:post and post:post:posttesting and did not occur in the control groups.
  3. Participation by couples in a treatment program results in no major change in attitude toward themselves in the sexual area between males and females as measured by a Q sort.
  4. Participation by couples in a treatment program results in no major change in attitudes toward their partners in the sexual area between the males and females in sexual area as measured by a Q sort.

Document Type

Dissertation

Language

English

Degree Name

Special Education

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Special Education

First Committee Member (Chair)

Gordon A. Zick

Second Committee Member

George Leonard Keppers

Third Committee Member

Sidney Rosenblum

Fourth Committee Member

Miles Vernon Zintz

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