Article Analysis Essay on What Verbal and Nonverbal Communication Cues Lead to Sex?

The article, What Verbal and Nonverbal Communication Cues Lead to Sex?: An Analysis of the Traditional Sexual Script presents a study on the communication cues present in a traditional sexual script that resulted in the views on the chances of sex. The scholar explains that using the sexual script viewpoint is the most effective strategy for assessing sexual interaction. She asserts, the identification of communication behaviors that result in the desired outcome (or that avert a negative outcome) is crucial for understanding how and when interactants in a sexual episode make the determination that their verbal and nonverbal communication will mostly likely result in sexual intercourse (La France, 2010). In conducting the study, the scholar used a sample of three hundred and seventy-three individuals by which 58% of them were female, and 42% were men. The sample consisted of middle-aged individuals from Midwestern University. The participants also took the courses on introductory communication and hence the participation being a bonus on their grades. The participants were also heterosexual whereby 79% of them were Caucasian, 12% were African-American, 3% were Hispanic, 1% were Middle Eastern, 3% were Pacific Islanders while 2% were Asian. Also, the average age of the participants was twenty-two years old. The respondents were also questioned about their relationship status whereby 40% of them claimed that they were dating and had single partners, while 31% of them claimed to be single and 21% claimed to have multiple partners. From the research findings, various communication cues determined the chances of sex taking place when the communication is either in a public or a private setting (La France, 2010).

The article can be viewed to be a bit biased in regards to sexual orientation. The scholar limited herself to heterosexual individuals and leaving out other forms of sexual orientation. Chances are that she would have obtained the same results but excluding other forms of sexual orientation makes the study biased. If the focus were to be on the heterosexual individuals alone, then the topic would be What Verbal and Nonverbal Communication Cues Lead to Sex between men and women?: An Analysis of the Traditional Sexual Script, but it's rather general, and hence the author should have factored in other groups. Furthermore, the issues of communication cues apply to all orientations. Also, the percentage in terms of ethnic background is also questionable especially since more than three-quarter of the participants were Caucasian. It would be more appropriate if there were a slight balance on ethnic background. Possibly, most of the students taking courses on introductory communication were Caucasian. Nonetheless, the scholar might have tried to strike a balance such that adequate comparisons are made in regards to racial differences. Nonetheless, the scholar presents a comprehensive analysis of communication cues and sex by integrating various views on the traditional sexual script from other scholars, indicating the relevance of the study and illustrating clearly in terms of data collection and calculation of how she ended up with her findings.

For such an analysis where basic aspects such as sex and communication, what can be learned is that there is a need to factor in other issues with respect to diversity. By limiting a study to a specific group, it becomes easier to make a generalization since various groups behave differently. Also, it is important to have a balance among the participants if factors such as ethnic background have to be considered in the analysis.

Reference

La France, B. (2010). What Verbal and Nonverbal Communication Cues Lead to Sex?: An Analysis of the Traditional Sexual Script. Communication Quarterly, 58(3), 297-318. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01463373.2010.503161