Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Assessing Differences in Sperm Competitive Ability in Drosophila
Published on: August 22, 2013
Sampling individuals with large sexual networks: an evaluation of four approaches
1Division of STD Prevention and Control, Population and Public Health Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. ann_jolly@hc-sc.gc.ca
Background:
Methods for accessing large sexual networks are essential for investigating the mechanisms for the spread of sexually transmitted infections.
Goal:
Four samples of cases were compared with the total population to determine which identified the largest networks.
Study Design:
Individuals with positive test results for chlamydia during a 6-month period were selected from a laboratory database and linked with sex partner information from a notifiable disease registry. Sexual networks were constructed for a random sample, people with positive results from two or more tests for chlamydia, people with positive tests results for both gonorrhea and chlamydia, and the preceding two groups combined.
Results:
The coinfected people combined with the repeaters yielded the highest proportion (47.8%) of large networks (>10 people), followed by the coinfected people, the repeaters, and finally the random sample.
Conclusions:
People coinfected with chlamydia and gonorrhea and those with repeated chlamydial infection present ideal opportunities for both research and prevention.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Cross-Sectional Research
Group Design
Relationship Formation
Cluster Sampling Method
To choose a cluster sample, divide the population into clusters (groups) and then randomly select some of the clusters. All the members from these clusters are in the cluster sample. For example, if you randomly sample four departments from your...
Natural Selection and Mating Preferences
Females, due to their biological roles in conception, pregnancy, and nursing, inherently...
Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...

