Testing the Utility of a Tablet-based Approach-Avoidance Task to Measure Sexual Interest

<p>Measures of sexual interest have been fraught with issues, such as being susceptible to manipulation and not easily portable. Indirect measures aim to overcome this by being less transparent, and thus supposedly harder to manipulate (Schmidt, Banse, & Imhoff, 2015). However, as many exist, it is hard to know which is the most effective. Due to the variance in the reliability and validity of current measures, a more comprehensive and easy-to?use method of assessing sexual interest is required. The present research attempts to solve this problem by using an emerging indirect measure - namely, an approach-avoidance task (AAT) - to measure sexual interest, implemented via a tablet PC. This thesis is original in both applying approach-avoidance procedures to the measurement of sexual interest, as well as implementing AATs on a tablet PC. Across six studies, the tablet AAT was rigorously tested, varying the exact methodology, including the instructions and stimuli, in order to determine the most optimal version. The first two studies used explicit instructions whereby participants had to evaluate the stimulus content (i.e., sexual attraction). The first study demonstrated that the AAT was somewhat effective at assessing age-specific preferences, but not sex-specific preferences, which was unexpected. The second study (which did not include child images) mainly demonstrated results that were contrary to what was expected (i.e., more avoidance for preferred images). Subsequent studies used implicit instructions whereby a directional cue indicated swipe direction. The third study's results were not in line with predictions, but this was most likely an artefact of the design. The fourth study also had mixed results, however, it appeared that the 'response time' was more in line with predictions, compared with the 'movement time' variable. The unexpected results from the fourth study (which largely replicated the methodology from another approach-avoidance that produced expected results by Piqueras-ii Fiszman, Kraus, & Spence, 2014) may have been due to an issue with the stimuli. Therefore, a survey was conducted for the fifth study to assess the attractiveness of the stimuli. These ratings were then used to reanalyse the data from the prior studies to determine whether the sexual attractiveness (or lack thereof) of the stimuli had an impact on the approach-avoidance reactions. However, it was found that sexual attractiveness did not have an effect. The sixth and final study aimed to test whether the equipment (tablet PC) was inappropriate for conducting an AAT, or whether an AAT was inappropriate method for assessing sexual interest. This was done by comparing the tablet PC AAT to a traditional joystick AAT. This sixth study also produced results that were not in line with predictions. The discussion chapter of this thesis thoroughly explores potential explanations as to why the application of approach-avoidance procedures to sexual interest was unsuccessful. This covers methodological considerations, such as the equipment, stimuli, instructions, and study sample, as well as wider considerations, such as the ‘file drawer’ issue and application of open science. The thesis concludes with recommendations for future research, including a discussion surrounding the utility (or futility) of continuing to research the AAT as a measure of sexual interest.</p>