Question

Identify the: Research type, Research purpose, Hypothesis/questions, Independent/Dependent variables, Research Study design, Sampling design, Standardized instruments, Internal and external validity, Gaps and limitations, Improvements to the study

OBJECTIVE. There is increasing evidence that youth exposure to sexual content on
television shapes sexual attitudes and behavior in a manner that may influence
reproductive health outcomes. To our knowledge, no previous work has empirically
examined associations between exposure to television sexual content and adolescent
pregnancy.

METHODS. Data from a national longitudinal survey of teens (12–17 years of age,
monitored to 15–20 years of age) were used to assess whether exposure to televised
sexual content predicted subsequent pregnancy for girls or responsibility for pregnancy
for boys. Multivariate logistic regression models controlled for other known
correlates of exposure to sexual content and pregnancy. We measured experience of
a teen pregnancy during a 3-year period.

RESULTS. Exposure to sexual content on television predicted teen pregnancy, with
adjustment for all covariates. Teens who were exposed to high levels of television
sexual content (90th percentile) were twice as likely to experience a pregnancy in
the subsequent 3 years, compared with those with lower levels of exposure (10th percentile).

CONCLUSIONS. This is the first study to demonstrate a prospective link between exposure to sexual content on television
and the experience of a pregnancy before the age of 20. Limiting adolescent exposure to the sexual content on
television and balancing portrayals of sex in the media with information about possible negative consequences might
reduce the risk of teen pregnancy. Parents may be able to mitigate the influence of this sexual content by viewing
with their children and discussing these depictions of sex. Pediatrics 2008;122:1047–1054

Answer 1

Research type: Correlational study.

Research purpose: To fill the gap in the existing literature with respect to sexual content on television and reproductive health behaviours.

Hypothesis/questions: To find if exposure to television sexual content was related to adolescent pregnancy.

Independent variable: Sexual content on television. Dependent variable: Teen pregnancy.

Research Study design: Longitudinal study.

Sampling design, Standardized instruments, Internal and external validity, Gaps and limitations, Improvements to the study: Please post these separately as we are supposed to answer just one question or four sub parts of a question.