In part, we have few reliable data on patterns of sexual behavior because it is difficult for researchers to obtain accurate information about this sensitive subject. Moreover, until AIDs emerged in the 1980s, there was little scientific demand for data on sexual behavior, except for specific areas such as contraception. Finally, every though the AIDS crisis has reached dramatic proportions (as will be discussed in the social policy section of Chapter 5), governments funding for studies of sexual behavior is controversial. Because the Social Survey described above concerns attitudes rather than behavior of human sexuality, its funding has not been in jeopardy.