1 1 Developing questions on sexual identity Gulløy,Haraldsen, Kleven and Normann Statistics Norway IAOS Conference, October 2008, Shanghai

2 Why? Changes in legislation and in public opinion The public debate on discrimination and living conditions “Statistics shall describe changes in the population, living conditions, the economy, the environment and the business community” (Statistics Norway’s Strategy Document) User demands – the need for representative data “In order to identify new needs, Statistics Norway will strengthen its contact with the users an customers in a systematic way” (Statistics Norway’s Strategy Document)

3 Is sexual identity relevant in the analysis of living conditions? Sampling: Primarly Nordic empirical studies Looking at: Health Alcohol & drugs Sosial contact Discrimination Violence & threats Procedure: Litterature study

4 It is probable that sexual identity may affect living conditions in a negative way The correlation seems to be strongest regarding –Mental health –Exposure to violence and threats of violence Sampling: Primarly Nordic empirical studies Looking at: Health Alcohol & drugs Sosial contact Discrimination Violence & threats Procedure: Litterature study Is sexual identity relevant in the analysis of living conditions?

5 Measuring sexual identity – the respondents Sampling: Young and old people Homosexuals and heterosexuals Different levels of education Different levels of engagement Instruments: Concept mapping Think-aloud session In depth disussions Procedure: Three iterative rounds With high validity –Sexual attraction ≠ Sexual identity With high reliability –Even by those who are uncertain or have not previously spoken about their sexuality Not offending people –The elderly –Immigrants Avoiding bias –Item non-response –Question order effects

6 Measuring sexual identity – the interviewers Sampling: Three groups of interviewers One of them immigrant interviewers Instruments: Drafted questions Interview guide Procedure: Run between 2. & 3. round of cognitive interviews With high validity –Sexual attraction ≠ Sexual identity With high reliability –Even by those who are uncertain or have not previously spoken abour their sexuality Not offending people –The elderly –Immigrants Avoiding bias –Item non-response –Question order effects

7 Challenges and Solutions The different dimensions –Measuring both sexual attraction and sexual identity –Approach to suit fixed and floating identities –Sexual orientation is not [allways] given for a lifetime - may change Sensitivity issues –Contextualisation  What has sexual identity to do with living conditions? –Flexible data collection mode  Alternative mail attachment for “don’t want to answer” Interviewer scepticism towards these kind of questions –Motivation of interviewers –No responsibility for item non-response or mail attachment

8 Final questions and procedure Sub sampling: People who felt attracted to same sex Instrument: Presented as one of several lifestyle questions Response given by numbers First question highligthing relevance Attraction + Identity Perceived problems Procedure: Telephone interview Mail option only after refusal Follow up on interviewers 1.How much would you say sexuality means for your quality of life? 2.Which [sex] do you feel sexually attracted to? 3.Do you consider yourself to be homosexual or lesbian, bisexual or heterosexual? 4.Have your sexual orientation ever caused problems for you in relation to your family/friends/colleagues? Dropped: Have you ever had a sexual relationship to a person with the same sex as yourself?

9 9 Developing questions on sexual identity Thank you for your attention For comments: