Conducting Research With LGB People of Color: Methodological Challenges and Strategies

Abstract

Methodological barriers have been highlighted as a primary reason for the limited research with lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people of color. Thus, strategies for anticipating and addressing potential methodological barriers are needed. To address this need, this article discusses potential challenges associated with conducting research with LGB people of color and describes specific strategies for addressing these challenges. Each step of the research process—from development of research questions to interpretation and dissemination of results—is discussed. This discussion concludes with a summary of recommended strategies for advancing the quality and quantity of future scholarship with LGB people of color.

Tips for research recruitment: The views of sexual minority youth

“…This study compliments other work focused on engaging sexual minority adults (e.g. Castillo-Mancilla et al, 2014;DeBlaere, Brewster, Sarkees, & Moradi, 2010;Hartman, 2011), and other research which has also reinforced the need for respectful study personnel and processes (e.g. Sherriff et al, 2011;Silvestre et al, 2006).…”

Testing a mediation framework for the link between perceived discrimination and psychological distress among sexual minority individuals.

“…Fur ther, 2% of participants chose to use the "other" response option for their sexual orientation and reported additional descriptions (e.g., "pansexual") to better capture their sexual orientations. Al though this is a small percentage, it still indicates that it may be important in research and practice to provide an option for partic ipants or clients to provide their own identity categories (DeBlaere, Brewster, Sarkees, Moradi, 2010).…”

The Palgrave Handbook of the Psychology of Sexuality and Gender

“…For example, sexual minority representation is often class-biased; there are vast differences between gay men and lesbians in terms of experience and gender equality; bisexual-only-focused research is rare; and many transgender people self-identify as heterosexual. In these respects (which are certainly not exhaustive), we might want to be mindful of the potentially homogenising effects of the LGBT acronym, which may erroneously imply to psychologists that there is a unified, equally represented 'LGBT community' and can lead us to deny the subjective experience of many sexual and gender minorities (DeBlaer et al, 2010).…”