Abstract
This study examined the effects of adding a 10-hour small group discussion format to a formal lecture course in human sexuality. The students were 94 undergraduates, balanced on pretest scores and assigned to one of the following conditions: (1) spaced small group discussion, (2) massed small group discussion, and (3) lecture-only control. Pre- and post-test measures assessed the dimensions of sexual attitudes, sexual anxiety, sexual guilt, and sexual experience. No significant differences were found between the three treatment conditions over time. Students in all three conditions reported a significant increase in the range of their sexual experiences. A significant decrease in sexual anxiety was found for subjects in the spaced condition and lecture-only condition. No significant changes in sexual attitudes or sexual guilt were found for any of the conditions. Implications of these findings for the structuring of sex education courses are discussed. Recommendations for future research include the use of a matched, no-intervention control group and the assessment of long-term effects of these sex education formats.