Final answer:
Alfred Kinsey contributed to the scientific study of sex through his innovative method of data collection on sexual behavior and by establishing The Kinsey Institute, which led to significant books that shaped future sex research. He also created the Kinsey scale.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of Alfred Kinsey's major contributions to the scientific study of sex was his method of data collection on sexual behavior. In 1947, he established The Kinsey Institute for Research, Sex, Gender and Reproduction at Indiana University, where he initiated large-scale survey research that led to the publication of his trailblazing books, 'Sexual Behavior in the Human Male' (1948) and 'Sexual Behavior in the Human Female' (1953). These works presented a diverse range of sexual behaviors and experiences, broadening public and scientific discourse on human sexuality. Additionally, Kinsey introduced the Kinsey scale, a six-point rating scale that conceptualized sexuality as a continuum rather than a strict dichotomy of gay or straight, which is still in use today.