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SEXUAL ORIENTATION RESEARCH PHASE 2:
THE FUTURE OF LGBT RESEARCH - PERSPECTIVES OF COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS
Footnotes
1.
Equality Strategy: Working Together for Equality, Scottish Executive 2000
2.
Equality Strategy, p.17
3.
Equality in Scotland: Guide to data sources, Scottish Executive 2000
4. Barry U
Data Issues - background paper, Equality Authority (Ireland) 2000
5. McManus, S (2003)
Sexual Orientation Research Phase 1: A Review of Methodological Approaches Scottish Executive, Edinburgh
6. For more detailed information about Framework see Ritchie, J & Spencer, L (1994) 'Qualitative data analysis for applied policy research'. In A. Bryman & R.G. Burgess
Analyzing Qualitative Data, London: Routledge or Ritchie, J, Spencer, L, & O'Connor, W. 'Carrying Out Qualitative Analysis'. In
Qualitative Research Practice, J. Ritchie and J. Lewis (eds.) (in press), London: Sage
7. Gender dysphoria refers to the dissatisfaction with one's gender (masculinity or femininity) which is in conflict with one's physical sex. The term is usually restricted to those who seek medical and surgical assistance to resolve their difficulty.
8. Since the groups have been conducted the Executive has established an LGBT health discussion forum. This is considering policy and may also be considering research.
9. The studies referred to are Morrison, C and Mackay, A (2000) 'The Experience of Violence and Harassment of Gay Men in the City of Edinburgh' Scottish Executive Central Research Unit and Plant, M, Mason, B and Thornton, C (1999) 'Experiences and Perceptions of Violence and Intimidation of the Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and Transgender Communities in Edinburgh' City of Edinburgh
10. McManus S (2003)
Op Cit
11. Carrying out a survey or census of LGBT people faces the main hurdle of how such a sample could be obtained, and would it be representative. There are difficulties in the attempt to achieve a representative sample of any minority population and this is compounded by the 'hidden' nature of LGBT people. Only a survey that includes non-LGBT people will ever be able to put reliable estimates on the number of LGBT people there are. To provide such estimates this needs to be a random sample of private households. These issues are discussed further in the methodological review. McManus S (2003)
Op Cit
12. Including questions on sexuality in household surveys presents a number of difficulties not all of which received attention within the groups. Chief among these is that the level of disclosure involved, may not result in the collection of accurate reliable data - particularly of younger people and those who are not out or public about their sexuality or gender dysphoria. There are also concerns that inclusion of questions about sexual orientation or changing how gender is asked could impact upon response rates to household surveys - which may compromise the robustness of any estimates that such research could produce. Finally, it should be noted that it is unlikely that a National survey would have big enough sample sizes to support robust sub-group analysis - without some method of boosting samples of the relevant groups (this is established practice for National Surveys involving minority ethnic groups). Again such issues are discussed further in the methodological review.
13. These methods are undoubtedly useful in all forms of research with LGBT people - both qualitative and quantitative. However, for survey research there remains the broader question of how to achieve a representative and robust sample of LGBT people - this needs significant attention prior to overcoming the recruitment barriers. Again, the methodological review provides more in depth discussion of this point.
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