Defining and measuring sexual orientation: a review

How to define and identify sexual orientations for the purpose of constructing representative samples of homosexuals, bisexuals, and heterosexuals is unclear and confusing to researchers. Different definitions and measures have been proposed and used to develop samples since the 1860s when sexual or...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of sexual behavior 1997-12, Vol.26 (6), p.643-658
Main Author: Sell, R L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Definitions
Female
Gender Identity
Homosexuality
Humans
Male
Methodological Problems
Psychology
Research Methodology
Sex Role Orientations
Sexual Behavior
Social Science Research
Theoretical Problems
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Description
Summary:How to define and identify sexual orientations for the purpose of constructing representative samples of homosexuals, bisexuals, and heterosexuals is unclear and confusing to researchers. Different definitions and measures have been proposed and used to develop samples since the 1860s when sexual orientations first gained widespread research interest. Unfortunately, the definitions and measurement tools used since then result in the selection of divergent and incomparable samples. If advances in the understanding of sexual orientations are to be made, it is critical that definitions and measures of sexual orientation be standardized. This paper reviews and critiques definitions and measures of sexual orientation that have been proposed and used by researchers over the past century. This review is intended to further our understanding of this subject and to encourage researchers to be critical of how they classify subjects based upon sexual orientation.
ISSN:0004-0002
1573-2800
DOI:10.1023/a:1024528427013