Sexual Orientation Research Review 2008

Topic | Social Inclusion
Researcher | Dr Martin Mitchell

About this study

Following the Equality and Human Rights Commission's (EHRC) move to challenge sexual orientation discrimination, NatCen was asked to undertake a review of relevant research. The aim was to gain a current and comprehensive picture of evidence about lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people to inform the Commission and provide the foundations of a research base.

Key findings concluded that:

-Introducing new legislation enshrining rights for LGB people and acknowledging
sexual orientation as a key equality strand, provides a major impetus for the future direction of research.

-Previous trends for 'bottom up' research, generated by LGB researchers themselves and a continuing hesitance to include sexual orientation in social policy research needed to be addressed.

-The absence of robust statistical data on sexual orientation presented a major obstacle to measuring progress on tackling discrimination and inequality.

 -The increasing acknowledgement of diversity within the LGB population had several implications for the focus and design of research.

-Despite growing sophistication and innovation in the field of sexual orientation research there was still room for development.

Potential policy impact

The review will be useful to commissioners of services and research who want to understand the general level and quality of recent research evidence concerning sexual orientation and LGB life. It will also be useful to those commissioning or undertaking research in identifying future research priorities and how such evidence might be improved.

Method

The review involved synthesis and analysis of previous research reviews and audits on sexual orientation. It considered quantitative and qualitative sources of data, evidence on a wide range of substantive issues, and published and unpublished material such as policy reviews, guides and best practice literature up to 2008 in England, Scotland and Wales.

Now find out more

In addition to the policy paper 'Beyond tolerance: Making sexual orientation a public matter', the Equality and Human Rights Commission has also produced six supplementary reports on a range of specific issues, which can be seen http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/fairer-britain/beyond-tolerance-sexual-orientation-project/supplementary-research/. The Sexual Orientation Review brings together the existing research and evidence on sexual orientation, in order to inform future policy development and strategy in relation to sexual orientation in England, Scotland and Wales.

 

 

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