A New Wrinkle on an Old Concern: Are the New Ethics Review Requirements for Explicit Warnings in Consent Forms Affecting the Results of Sexuality Research?
Charlene Senn, University of Windsor and Serge Desmarais, University of Guelph.

Consent forms required by Institutional Ethics Review Boards have changed historically to protect universities and participants but may inadvertently affect sex research through the provision of detailed warnings. We tested this contention using an experiment (N = 135) and a survey (N = 75). Three types of consent forms were used to manipulate the degree of warning (“procedures only”, “mild warnings”, “explicit warnings”). We measured participants’ mood and expectations after reading the consent form but prior to any study tasks. Following the study, we assessed post-test mood and participants’ expectations and experience in the study. Consent forms did not affect mood or survey data. However, warnings influenced participants’ evaluations of experimental stimulus materials, with more negative evaluations produced by warnings and detailed content than by procedures only wording. Moreover, more detailed content in consent forms did not provide participants with a better sense of what the studies would entail. We discuss the need to provide information to participants while minimizing demand effects (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 2006; 15: 123-146).

Sexually Overt Approaches in Singles Bars
Jonathan Huber, Queen’s University & Edward Herold, University of Guelph
This study analyzed attitudes towards and use of sexually overt approach behaviours (SOAB) in the context of singles bars. Naturalistic observations in five Ontario bars were conducted to obtain examples of the types of SOABs occurring there. Additionally, university women (N = 155) ranging in age from 18 to 28 ( M = 19.4) were surveyed to measure their attitudes toward and experiences with SOABs in singles bars. Most of the women had experienced SOABs, yet most held attitudes that were not accepting of them. Groping behaviours were the least accepted. Most behaviours were judged as unacceptable, but not as sexual harassment. Using Pearson correlations, five variables, namely Number of Partners, Personal Normative Beliefs Regarding Casual Sex, Cognitive Attitudes toward SOABs, Affective Attitudes Towards SOABs, and Attitudes Toward SOABs were significantly related to experience with SOABs. However, in regression analysis, only two of the predictor variables, Number of sexual partners and Attitudes Toward SOABs, were significantly related to experiencing SOABs (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 2006; 15: 113-146).

Online and Traditional Paper-and-Pencil Survey Administration: Examining Experimenter Presence, Sensitive Material and Long Surveys
Eileen Wood, Amanda Nosko, Wilfred Laurier University, Serge Desmarais, Guelph University, Craig Ross, University of Windsor, and Colleen Irvine, Wilfred Laurier University.
The present study examined response differences between paper-and-pencil versus computer administered surveys as a function of experimenter presence, survey length, and sensitive material, including sexuality related measures. Three conditions were employed, one traditional supervised paper-and-pencil condition, one online computer administration condition that was supervised, and one unsupervised online computer administration condition. Missing data were greatest in the paper-and-pencil condition at the end of this long survey in comparison to both online computer conditions. Of the four measures assessing sensitive material, more missing data were found in the paper-and-pencil condition but only for one measure assessing sensitive content. Researcher presence did not have an impact on performance. These findings have important implications for designing and interpreting survey outcomes (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 2006; 15: 113-146).

Trends in Teen Pregnancy in Canada with Comparisons to U.S.A. and England/Wales
Alexander McKay, Sex Information and Education Council of Canada.
This report provides an overview of trends in teen pregnancy in Canada since 1974. In Canada, teen pregnancy rates are calculated as the sum of live births, induced abortions, and miscarriages per 1,000 of the population of females aged 15-19. Between 1974, the year Statistics Canada began collecting and disseminating data on teen pregnancy, and 2003, the most recent year for which data is available, the teen pregnancy rate declined from 53.9 to 32.1. The decline was more pronounced among younger teens (15-17) than older teens (18-19). There were considerable variations in rates of teen pregnancy among the Canadian provinces/territories with higher rates occurring in the prairie provinces and territories. Canada, the USA and England and Wales all saw their combined birth/abortion rates among women under age 20 decline since 1990 and Canada’s rate remains less than half the rate of both the USA and England and Wales (The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 2006; 15: 157-161.