Documenting Pornography Use in America: A Comparative Analysis of Methodological Approaches

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Estimates of pornography consumption in the United States exhibit considerable variability.
• Previous research has not fully reconciled the discrepancies in reported pornography use rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the reasons behind the wide range of pornography use estimates among U.S. adults.
• To identify how survey methodology, specifically question wording, influences reported pornography consumption.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from four distinct, nationally representative U.S. adult samples.
• Comparison of pornography use estimates derived from different question formats (e.g., most recent use vs. general use patterns).

Main Results:

• Significant variation in pornography use estimates is attributed to differences in survey question wording and response options.
• The 'most-recent-use' question format yielded higher prevalence rates: 46% of men and 16% of women (ages 18-39) viewed pornography weekly in 2014.
• These findings contrast with lower estimates from studies using general historical use questions.

Conclusions:

• Survey methodology, particularly the framing of questions about sensitive behaviors, critically affects prevalence estimates.
• The 'most-recent-use' approach appears more effective in minimizing recall bias and assessing current pornography consumption.
• Results necessitate a re-evaluation of existing data and popular discourse on pornography use in the U.S.