Surveying Sexual and Gender Minorities

This edited volume examines the challenges and innovations in collecting, measuring, and analysing data on sexual and gender minorities. As interest in sexual and gender minority research grows across academia and policy, the need for high-quality, inclusive, and comparable data has become increasingly urgent. However, existing data sources remain fragmented and methodologically complex.

The book provides a critical overview of major data sources, including general population surveys and dedicated LGBTIQ+ studies, assessing their strengths and limitations in terms of representativeness, comparability, and data quality. Drawing on the Total Survey Error framework, the book evaluates different approaches to measuring sexual orientation and gender identity. It offers practical guidance on questionnaire design and survey implementation to improve validity and inclusivity of survey measures. It also presents sampling approaches and post-survey adjustments for LGBTIQ+ studies.

Key Features:

• Provides a Total Survey Error framework for survey research focussing on sexual and gender minorities
• Provides an overview of data sources for LGBTIQ+ research, including international surveys and targeted studies
• Offers practical guidance on measuring sexual orientation and gender identity using state-of-the-art frameworks
• Discusses methodological challenges such as non-probability sampling, disclosure, and sampling hard-to-reach populations
• Highlights innovative approaches, including boost samples, online data collection, and census developments
• Includes cross-national perspectives and real-world case studies

The book aims to position survey research focussing on sexual and gender minorities as a rapidly evolving field and provides guidance for researchers, statisticians, data producers, and policy makers working on equality, diversity, and inclusion.