Researchers looking for poly Americans and Australians

The blog Polyamory Practically has posted a call for participants in a research project on polyamorous lives. The study is being conducted by researchers in the Department of Sociology at Macquarie University in Australia. They are looking for poly folks ages 18-65 of any sexual orientation or gender identity, both in the U.S. and Australia. It appears their aim is to discern differences between non-monogamous experiences in the two countries.

The call reads:

We are looking for participants for a study on polyamorous lives, what makes them possible and how they are lived. The research is part of our work at the Department of Sociology, Macquarie University. In this study we aim to find out what relationship agreements and structures poly people have in their lives and what life stories each individual brings to non-monogamy.

A 1-2 hour interview will be conducted, which will involve a short survey. There is no deadline listed.

If you are interested and live in the U.S., please contact Beth Hill at beth.emily.hill [at] gmail [dot] com. If you live in Australia or have general inquiries, please contact Dr. Nikó Antalffy of the Department of Sociology at Macquarie University at Niko.Antalffy [at] mq.edu.au.

Researchers seek your experience with porn

Do you read or watch porn? Researchers Feona Attwood, Martin Barker, and Clarissa Smith are looking for participants in an online questionnaire about your experiences with porn. Unlike most research into porn consumption -- which is often concerned with the potential negative effects of porn -- this project is focused on the actual people who use porn.

Our project is concerned with the everyday uses of pornography, and how the people who use it feel it fits into their lives. Pornography is of course a highly topical issue, subject to many opposing views and ‘strong opinions’. And we are not saying that there are no moral or political issues. But we are saying that the voices of users and enjoyers have been swamped. In fact, there is very little research that engages with the users of pornography, asking how, when and why they turn to it.

The questionnaire is a mixture of multiple choice and open questions. It will ask questions about what porn you watch, how you find it, what you like/dislike, and how your porn consumption influences your feelings about sexuality. The questionnaire should take about 20-30 minutes to complete, and responses will remain anonymous. Go fill it out!