Self-Perceptions of Female Sexuality Survey Instrument

Abstract

The Self-Perceptions of Female Sexuality Survey Instrument is a comprehensive psychological and behavioral measure designed to assess a woman’s wide range of beliefs, attitudes, feelings, and responses concerning her own sexuality, as well as, to a lesser extent, that of her partners. The instrument consists of 123 items, utilizing both open-ended and closed-form questions.

The primary purpose of the instrument is to provide empirical clarity regarding the distinction between clitoral and vaginal orgasms. Specifically, it investigates whether perceived differences exist in terms of physiological and psychological sexual satisfaction when experiencing orgasm via masturbation, petting, and sexual intercourse. The instrument is highly detailed and covers extensive demographic, attitudinal, and sexual history variables.

Keywords

Female sexuality, sexual attitudes, sexual history, orgasm, clitoral stimulation, vaginal stimulation, sexual satisfaction, masturbation, sexual adjustment, professional women.

Authors

J. Kenneth Davidson, Sr., Carol A. Darling

Purpose

The core objective for the development of the Self-Perceptions of Female Sexuality Survey Instrument was to contribute further clarification to the scientific understanding of the female orgasmic response. Historically, there has been a debate regarding the nature of clitoral versus vaginal orgasm, often treated as inseparable phenomena.

The instrument was specifically designed to ascertain perceived differences in the experience of orgasm across three distinct sexual contexts: masturbation, petting (mutual masturbation), and sexual intercourse. By measuring both physiological and psychological dimensions of sexual satisfaction within these contexts, the authors aimed to provide meaningful data on subjective orgasmic quality and response variation.

Construct

The scale measures the multi-faceted construct of **Self-Perceptions of Female Sexuality**. This construct is assessed across several interconnected dimensions, providing a holistic view of a woman’s sexual life and self-concept regarding sexual function. These dimensions include:

• Sexual Adjustment and Satisfaction: Measuring perceived levels of current physiological and psychological sexual satisfaction and desired changes in sex life.

• Orgasmic Quality: Focusing on perceived differences in achieving orgasm through various means, and evaluating the relative contribution of clitoral versus vaginal stimulation.

• Sexual Behavior and History: Covering frequency of different sexual activities, experience with pretending orgasm, and partner history.

Validity

The developers established **Construct Validity** for the instrument through a careful review of pre-test data. This review confirmed that the variables measured exhibited the expected relationships concerning perceived differences in orgasm achieved during masturbation, petting, and sexual intercourse.

Furthermore, the instrument has demonstrated its effectiveness by successfully delineating crucial aspects of female sexuality, including perceived differences in orgasmic responses, the influence of multiple sex partners on sexual satisfaction, factors related to pretending orgasm, and overall levels of sexual satisfaction and desired changes in the sexual lives of single professional women (as evidenced by subsequent research derived from the instrument).

Reliability

The developers note that the **test-retest reliability** of the instrument has not been formally established. Therefore, users should exercise caution when using this instrument to measure stability over time.

Factor Analysis

The Self-Perceptions of Female Sexuality Survey Instrument is designed as a broad survey rather than a psychometric scale intended to yield a single score or definitive subscale scores. It is explicitly stated that it is **not intended to be employed as a scale that can stand alone**. Consequently, no formal factor analysis or specific factor structure is reported in the provided documentation. However, the authors recommend arranging any attitudinal items selected for use in a reverse/nonreverse response pattern to minimize response bias and ensure respondent concentration.

Instrument

Test Type: Comprehensive Self-Report Survey Instrument (Psychological and Behavioral)

Format: 123 open-ended and closed-form questions.

Language Available: English

Population Group: Women with considerable sexual experience and advanced education.

Age Group: 25 years or older.

Population Details: The instrument requires a high level of language sophistication, making it best suited for populations with at least two or more years of college education. Due to the sensitive and detailed nature of the questions, respondents must have had substantial sexual activity to respond meaningfully. Previous samples have included professional nurses (associate degree/diploma or higher) and professional women in academia (baccalaureate degree or higher).

Test Methodology: The instrument is ideally suited for distribution as a mail questionnaire using a business reply envelope, ensuring total privacy and anonymity for the detailed personal information being sought. Respondents check appropriate categories or answer open-ended items in their own words. Completion requires an average of 45 minutes.

Keywords

Sexual adjustment, sexual history, female sexual response, self-perception, physiological satisfaction, psychological satisfaction, clitoral versus vaginal orgasm, survey methodology, educational level.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not specified.

Affiliation Email addresses: [email protected] (J. Kenneth Davidson, Sr.)

Correspondence Address: J. Kenneth Davidson, Sr., 2634 Collingwood Drive, Round Rock, TX 78665.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Information regarding specific licensing fees or permissions is not provided in the source material. The instrument was developed and utilized in research dating back to the early to mid-1980s (1983–1985).

Reference’s

• Darling, C. A., & Davidson, J. K., Sr. (1985, November). Enhancing relationships: Understanding the feminine mystique of pretending orgasm. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Council on Family Relations, Dallas, TX.

• Davidson, J. K., Sr., & Darling, C. A. (1983, October). The stereotype of single women revisited: Sexual behavior and sexual satisfaction among professional women. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Mid-South Sociological Association, Birmingham, AL.

• Davidson, J. K., Sr., & Darling, C. A. (1984, November). Perceived differences in the female orgasmic response: New meanings for sexual satisfaction. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the National Council on Family Relations, San Francisco, CA.

• Davidson, J. K., Sr., & Darling, C. A. (1985, August). The sexually experienced female: The influence of multiple sex partners. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Social Problems, Washington, DC.

Items of the Self-Perceptions of Female Sexuality Survey Instrument

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

1. How would you rate your current level of sexual adjustment? (Very much adjusted—Very unadjusted; 6 point)

2. At what age did you first become aware of possible pleasurable sensations of the clitoris? (PLEASE SPECIFY)

3. It is necessary for a female to achieve an orgasm in a majority of the instances when she experiences masturbation, petting (mutual masturbation), and/or sexual intercourse in order to be classified as sexually adjusted. (Strongly agree—Strongly disagree; 4 point)

4. Do you feel that most of your female friends believe that a female must experience an orgasm in order to be sexually adjusted? (Yes/No)

5. What has been your most important source of information about the female orgasm? (15 options)

6. Have you ever consciously considered the possibility that orgasms reached through masturbation while alone and/or sexual inter- course might be different? (Yes/No)

7. Have you ever read any material about different kinds and/or types of orgasms? (Yes/No)

8. If ever read materials about different kinds and/or types of orgasm: From the material that you have read, what conclusions, if any, did the authors reach regarding different kinds and/or types of orgasm?

9. Have you ever discussed with a friend, relative, and/or acquaintance whether different kinds and/or types of orgasms exist for the female during sexual intercourse and/or masturbation while alone? (Yes/No)

10. If ever discussed different kinds and or types of orgasm:

    With whom have you ever discussed different kinds and/or types of orgasm? (15 categories)

11. If ever discussed different kinds and/or types of orgasm:

    At what age did you first discuss different kinds and/or types of orgasm with another person?

12. In your opinion, do different kinds and/or types of orgasm exist for the human female? (Yes/No/Uncertain)

13. If yes, or uncertain that different kinds and/or types of orgasm exist:

    Would you please describe in your own words, the different kinds and/or types of orgasm that can be achieved through masturbation while alone, petting, and/or sexual intercourse.

14. Have you ever masturbated while alone? (Yes/No)

15. Have you ever achieved an orgasm? (Yes/No /Uncertain)

16. Have you ever experienced sexual intercourse? (Yes/No)

17. If ever had orgasm:

    How did you first experience orgasm?

    • 1. Masturbation while alone

    • 2. Petting (Mutual masturbation)

    • 3. Sexual intercourse

    • 4. Other

18. If ever had orgasm:

    At what age did you experience your first orgasm?

19. If ever had orgasm:

    Under which of the following circumstances have you ever experienced an orgasm? (Check all applicable categories; 32 options)

20. If ever had orgasm through masturbating while alone:

    At what age did you experience your first orgasm through masturbating while alone?

21. If ever had orgasm through petting:

    At what age did you experience your first orgasm through petting?

22. If ever had orgasm through sexual intercourse:

    At what age did you experience your first orgasm through sexual intercourse?

23. If ever masturbated while alone:

    How old were you the first time that you masturbated while alone?

24. If ever masturbated while alone:

    How often do you experience an orgasm through masturbating while alone? (Always-Never; 5 options)

25. If ever masturbated while alone:

    How many orgasms do you usually experience during a single episode of masturbating alone?

26. If masturbated while alone within the past two years:

    During the past two years, about how many times per week, month, or year have you averaged masturbating while alone? (Choose only one category and do not use range of times or check the category)

    • 1. Times per week 2. Times per month 3. Times per year

27. If ever had orgasm while masturbating alone:

    In what specific area of your genital region do you most feel the sensation of orgasm occurring during masturbating while alone?

28. If ever masturbated alone:

    How would you rate your physiological reaction from masturbating while alone? (Intense satisfaction-No satisfaction; 5 options)

29. If ever masturbated alone:

    How would you rate your psychological reaction from masturbating while alone? (No satisfaction-Intense satisfaction; 5 options)

30. If ever petted:

    How often do you experience an orgasm while petting? (Always-Never; 5 options)

31. If ever had orgasm during petting:

    How many orgasms do you usually experience during a single episode of petting?

32. If ever had orgasm during petting:

    In what specific area of your genital region do you most feel the sensation of orgasm occurring during petting?

33. If ever had orgasm:

    Do you experience a physiological need in yourself to have an orgasm prior to any sexual arousal and/or sexual activity? (Never-Always; 5 options)

34. If ever had orgasm:

    Do you experience a physiological need in yourself to have more than one orgasm while engaging in masturbating while alone, pet- ting, and/or sexual intercourse? (Never-Always; 5 options)

35. If ever had orgasm:

    Do you experience a psychological need in yourself to have an orgasm prior to any sexual arousal and/or sexual activity? (Never-Always; 5 options)

36. If ever had orgasm:

    Do you experience a psychological need in yourself to have more than one orgasm while engaging in masturbating while alone, pet- ting, and/or sexual intercourse? (Never-Always; 5 options)

37. If ever experienced more than one orgasm during a single sexual experience, including masturbation while alone: Do successive orgasms during a single sexual experience become stronger or weaker? (10 options)

38. If ever had sexual intercourse:

    At what age did you first experience sexual intercourse?

39. If had sexual intercourse within the past two years:

    During the past two years, about how many times per week, month, or year have you averaged having sexual intercourse? (Choose only one category and do not use a range of times or check the category)

    • 1. Times per week 2. Times per month 3. Times per year

40. If ever had sexual intercourse:

    With how many different partners have you ever had sexual intercourse?

41. If ever had sexual intercourse:

    During sexual intercourse, at what point does your most recent male sex partner usually achieve his first orgasm? (6 options)

42. If ever had sexual intercourse:

    Would you please indicate the most frequent position that you utilize for sexual intercourse. You are to rank the sexual intercourse positions with regard to frequency of occurrence with 1-most often, 2-second most often, and 3-third most often only. (12 options)

43. If ever had sexual intercourse:

    How often do you experience an orgasm during sexual intercourse? (Always-Never; 5 options)

44. If rarely or never have orgasm during sexual intercourse:

    Why do you believe that you experience difficulty in achieving orgasm during sexual intercourse?

45. If ever had orgasm during sexual intercourse:

    How many orgasms do you usually experience during a single vaginal penetration while having sexual intercourse?

46. If ever had orgasm during sexual intercourse:

    After having experienced orgasm during sexual intercourse, what is the typical extent of your physiological reaction? (Intense satisfaction-No satisfaction; 5 options)

47. If ever had orgasm during sexual intercourse:

    After having experienced orgasm during sexual intercourse, what is the typical extent of your psychological reaction? (Intense satisfaction-No satisfaction; 5 options)

48. If ever masturbated to orgasm while alone and had sexual intercourse:

    Do you prefer to masturbate to orgasm while alone rather than having sexual intercourse? (Always-Never; 5 options)

49. If ever had orgasm:

    Would you please indicate the most frequent techniques that you use to achieve orgasm?

    You are to rank the following techniques with regard to frequency of occurrence with 1-most often, 2-second most often, and 3-third most often only. (32 options)

50. If ever masturbated while alone, petted, had sexual intercourse, and experienced orgasm:

    Do you experience a difference between an orgasm reached during masturbating while alone, during petting, and during sexual intercourse with vaginal penetration? (Yes/No)

51. If yes, differences exist between orgasm achieved during masturbation while alone, petting, and sexual intercourse:

    In your own words, please describe the difference between orgasms achieved during masturbation while alone, petting, and sexual intercourse with vaginal penetration

52. If ever had orgasm during sexual intercourse:

    In what specific area of your genital region do you most feel the sensation of orgasm occurring during sexual intercourse with vaginal penetration?

53. If ever had orgasm during sexual intercourse:

    What is the relative contribution of clitoral versus vaginal stimulation in helping you to achieve orgasm during sexual intercourse? (7 options)

54. If ever had orgasm during masturbation:

    What is the relative contribution of clitoral versus vaginal stimulation in helping you to achieve orgasm during masturbating while alone: (7 options)

55. If ever had orgasm during petting:

    What is the relative contribution of clitoral versus vaginal stimulation in helping you to achieve orgasm during petting? (7 options)

56. Which of the following changes, if any, would you like to have in your current sex life? (44 options)

57. How would you rate your overall personal physiological level of sexual satisfaction? (Very much satisfied-Very much dissatisfied; 6 options)

58. How would you rate your overall personal psychological level of sexual satisfaction? (Very much satisfied-Very much dissatisfied; 6 options)