Dozens of scientific studies on human sexuality have been conducted and are ongoing within our laboratory. Our focus has been studying sex education. Student participation in this research is extensive — and includes authorships and presentations at national research conferences. This unique aspect of our lab keeps the topics of study fresh and culturally relevant.
Current Student Researchers

Jon Alaniz
Past Student Researchers
Dani Aguila
Jon Ancira
Kimberly Barton
Kristan Bauman
Kathryn Brooks
Janet Camacho
Candy Camargo
Kristelle Cefre
Eric Chapa
James Crawford
Evelyn De La Cruz
Brandan Dunne
Anna Marie Evans
James Evans
Jared Garcia
Nusta Garnica
Diane Goguen
Ivos Gonzalez
Selah Guerra
Alex Gurian
Zach Hanich
Alice Heugel
Melany Higdon
Areayla Jeanpierre
Kianna Kelley
John Le
Scott Lee
Jeremy Lloyd
Christopher Lowell
Delia Martinez
Kristin Martinez
Tailar Matthews
Joel McMillan
Gerona Mylander
Marin McDaniel
Brendan O'Maoileidigh
Jason Munoz
Valerie Ortiz
Maimoona Palwala
Stacey Pierce
Alex Reidel
Ashley Richardson
Amanda Rios
Callie Roberts
Stephanie Romero
Charles Ross
Andrew Saez
Brian Saez
Alex Sanchez
Ashley Schultz
Madison Stout
Jasmine Thomas
Gary Valdez
Mathew Wheeler
Wendy Whipple
Upcoming Research Conferences
Our Research
What Should You Know about Sexuality at Different Ages?: Abstract / Answers
Biological Sex and Sexual Orientation affect Sexual Consent: Abstract
Do You Know What You Think You Know: Abstract
Science Based Sex Education Decreases Sexual Prejudices and Discrimination: Abstract
Sex Education For Everyone: Abstract / Presentation
Dispelling Sexual Myths with higher and Virtual Education: Abstract / Poster / Presentation
Sex is Simple: Presentation
Sexual Language is Implicitly More Offensive to Females than Males: Abstract / Presentation
Can Emojis and Vocabulary Predict Sexual Knowledge?: Abstract / Poster / Presentation
Measuring Sex, Gender, and Orientation on a True Continuum: Abstract / Presentation
A Sexual Vocabulary Test: How much do we really know about Sex?: Abstract / Presentation
The Culture and Evolution of Human Sexuality in America: Abstract / Presentation
Do Americans know any more about Sex than they did 25 years ago?: Abstract / Poster
Gender Studies Lecture Series: Sexual Illiteracy: Poster / Presentation
Is Sex and Gender Best Defined Categorically or Continuously?: Abstract / Poster / Presentation
Human Sexuality Education in America Today: Myth, Oxymoron, or Real?: Abstract
How do we really learn about sex?: Presentation
Lucas, D. R., Palwala, M., Schultz, A., Alaniz, J., Crawford, J., Fox, J., & Evans, A. M. (2020). What should you know about sexuality at different ages? Paper to be presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science, Chicago, Illinois. (Conference canceled because of the COVID-19 Crisis.)
Lucas, D. R., Schultz, A., & Stout, M. (2020). Biological sex and sexual orientation affect sexual consent. Paper to be presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science, Chicago, Illinois. (Conference canceled because of the COVID-19 Crisis.)
Hashimoto, K. D., Salazar, C. J., Centeno, E., Dominguez, J. A., Evans, A. M., & Lucas, D. R. (2020). Do you know what you think you know? Paper to be presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Frisco, Texas. (Conference canceled because of the COVID-19 Crisis.)
Lucas, D. R., Goguen, D., Faulk, E., Richardson, A., & Cefre, K. (2020). Science based sex education decreases sexual prejudices and discrimination. Paper to be presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Frisco, Texas. (Conference canceled because of the COVID-19 Crisis.)
McDaniel, M., Matthews, T., & Lucas, D. R. (2020). How much do college students in the biomedical sciences know about sex? Paper to be presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Frisco, Texas. (Conference canceled because of the COVID-19 Crisis.)
Palwala, M., Schultz, A., Alaniz, J., Crawford, J., Fox, J., Evans, A. M., & Lucas, D. R. (2020). What should you know about sexuality? Paper to be presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Frisco, Texas. (Conference canceled because of the COVID-19 Crisis.)
Schultz, A., Stout, M., & Lucas, D. R. (2020). Does biological sex and sexual orientation affect sexual consent? Paper to be presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Frisco, Texas. (Conference canceled because of the COVID-19 Crisis.)
Lucas, D. R. (March 11, 2020). Sex Education for Everyone. Paper to be presented at the annual SXSW Education Conference & Festival, Austin Texas. (Conference canceled because of the COVID-19 Crisis.)
Lucas, D. R. (November 14, 2019). Sex is Simple. But, oh-boy do humans make it confusing! Keynote Speaker for Jessica’s Project Reproductive Health and Unplanned Pregnancy Summit, St. Philip’s College, San Antonio, Texas.
Lucas, D. R. (October 23, 2019). Healthy Relationships. Keynote Speaker for Take a Stand Against Domestic Violence Conference, Northwest Vista College, San Antonio, Texas
Lucas, D. R., Fox, J., Kelley, K., Goguen, D., Matthews, T., Cefre, K., & Faulk, E. (2019). Dispelling sexual myths with higher and virtual education. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Sciences, Washington, D.C.
Lucas, D. R., Palwala, M., Lowell, C., Martinez, K., & Faulk, E. (2019). Sexual language is implicitly more offensive to females than males. Paper accepted presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Sciences, Washington, D.C.
Jeanpierre, A., Ortiz, V., McDaniel, M., & Lucas, D. R. (2019). What is your Sex IQ? A comparison between the Kinsey Institute’s Test of Sexual Knowledge and the General Sexual Knowledge Questionnaire. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Lucas, D. R., Fox, J., Kelley, K., Goguen, D., Matthews, T., Cefre, K., & Faulk, E. (2019). Dispelling sexual myths with higher and virtual education. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Palwala, M., Lowell, C., Martinez, K., Faulk, E., & Lucas, D. R. (2019). Sexual language is more implicitly offensive to females than males. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Lucas, D. R., Matthews, T., Camacho, J., Garnica, N. (2018). Can Emojis and Vocabulary Predict General Sexual Knowledge? Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Sciences, San Francisco, California.
Camacho, J., Garnica, N., Matthews, T., & Lucas, D. R. (2018). Can Emojis and Vocabulary Predict General Sexual Knowledge? Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Houston, Texas.
Lucas, D. R., Fox, J., Nylander, G., Wheeler, M., & Roberts, C. (2017). A Sexual Vocabulary Test: How Much Do We Really Know about Sex? Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association in San Antonio, Texas.
Lucas, D. R., Hanich Z., Gurian, A., Lee, S., & Sanchez, A. (2017). Measuring Sex, Gender, and Orientation on a True Continuum. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association in San Antonio, Texas.
Lucas, D. R. (2016). Sexual Illiteracy. Invited speaker for the Gender Studies Lecture Series, The Women’s Center, The University of Texas at Dallas.
Lucas, D. (2016). Is sex and gender best defined categorically or continuously? Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Sciences, Chicago, Illinois.
Lucas, D. R., Cosma, A., Hall, M., Cool, J., Roberts, C., & Nylander, G. (2016). The Culture and Evolution of Human Sexuality Education in America. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Dallas, Texas.
Lucas, D. R., Roberts, C., Nylander, G., & Higdon, M. (2016). Do Americans know more about sex today than they did 25 years ago? Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Dallas, Texas.
Lucas, D., Sanchez, A., Hanich Z., Gurian, A., Reidel A., & Lee, S. (2016). Is sex and gender best defined categorically or continuously? Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Dallas, Texas.
Lucas, D. R., Roberts, C., Nylander, G., & Higdon, M. (October 27, 2015). How Do We Really Learn About Sex? Invited speakers at Northwest Vista College’s 9th annual Psychology Day, San Antonio, Texas.
Lucas, D. R. (August 2, 2015). Adam, Eve, and Gender Inequality. Invited speaker at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, San Antonio, Texas.
Lucas, D. R., Roberts, C., Nylander, G., & Higdon, M. (2015). Human Sexuality Education in America Today: Myth, Oxymoron, or Real? Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Wichita, Kansas.
Lucas, D. R., Roberts, C., Nylander, G., & Higdon, M. (2015). Human Sexuality Education in America Today? Paper presented at the International Conference on Teaching & Leadership Excellence, Austin, Texas.
Lucas, D. R., Nylander, G., O’Maoileidigh, B., Rios, A., Saenz, B., & Thomas, J. (2014). Physical Characteristics Women prefer in Partners: Size Matters, but not in Reality. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, San Antonio, Texas.