The future of sex research and the meaning of science

One major source of discord within sex research is the conceptual confusion concerning the meaning of science. The older positivistic stance has been increasingly rejected by scientists, and a newer postpositivist perspective has been developed, but many sex researchers are not fully cognizant of these changes. The importance and nature of these recent changes for sex research are discussed and illustrated with examples from research on HIV/AIDS, pornography, and homosexuality. The new postpositivist view of the meaning of science affords sexual science a more creative role and a more problem-resolving position in our society. The emphasis here is not on the impossible goal of being value free but on the achievable goal of being value aware. The significance of this new scientific perspective lies in its ability to integrate our professional efforts, to enhance the value of research on sexuality, and to help create a new discipline of sexology.