SMART: Best practices for asking questions about sexual orientation on surveys

With support from the Ford Foundation, the Sexual Minority Assessment Research Team (SMART) comprised an expert panel from around the country and met for four years to develop a best practices document for asking questions about sexual orientation on surveys. The purpose of this report was to collect and assess the available information on a number of topics including: 1. What to ask; 2. How and Where to ask the question; and 3. What are the special considerations to consider with respect to age, culture and gender expression. The result of this effort was publication of report in November, 2009 entitled “Best Practices for Asking Questions about Sexual Orientation on Surveys.” This presentation, as part of a panel of researchers who worked on this project, will provide an overview of the Best Practices document including the process used to develop the document and the specific methodological consideration that went into the framework of the report. This includes building consensus among the expert panel, the process of reviewing the evidence on data collection and addressing fundamental questions such as the multiple dimensions of sexual orientation. The talk will also address specific findings with respect to asking questions about sexual orientation of both younger and older persons. In addition, the presentation will address strategies with respect to asking questions about sexual orientation across various racial and ethnic cultures.