Attitude change in a human sexuality course that de-emphasizes small group activities

The attitudes of second-year medical students were measured to determine if positive attitude changes could be obtained in a human sexuality course that de-emphasized small group activities. Students were given a semantic differential instrument and were asked to rate four concepts related to human sexuality: (a) my sexuality, (b) masturbation, (c) homosexuality, and (d) my role in understanding sexual problems. Significant changes in student attitudes were reported at the 0x05 level for the concept, my sexuality; at the 0x01 level for the concept, my role in understanding sexual problems; and at the 0x001 level for the concepts, homosexuality and masturbation. Females had more positive attitudes (P < 0x001), pre and post, towards homosexuality than did males. No significant differences were found between married and single students.