Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/214635 
Year of Publication: 
2019
Citation: 
[Journal:] Journal of Official Statistics [ISSN:] 2001-7367 [Volume:] 35 [Issue:] 4 [Publisher:] De Gruyter Poland [Place:] Warsaw [Year:] 2019 [Pages:] 777-805
Publisher: 
De Gruyter Poland, Warsaw
Abstract: 
Research comparing heterosexuals with bisexuals and homosexuals in economics and the social sciences typically relies on two strategies to identify sexual orientation in existing survey data of general populations. Probing respondents to self-report their sexual orientation is generally considered the preferred option. Since self-reports are unavailable in most largemultidisciplinary surveys, often researchers infer sexual orientation fromthe gender-constellation of a respondent's partnership instead. Based on German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) data, this article reviews both strategies empirically in the context of a household panel survey. The analysis shows that self-reported and partnership-inferred sexual orientation are not mutual substitutes, instead leading to substantively different conclusions about differences between heterosexuals and LGBs (Lesbian, Gays, and Bisexuals). The article discusses problems of non-coverage in partnershipinferred sexual orientation and also investigates measurement error in self-reported sexual orientation, finding notable mode and interviewer effects.
Subjects: 
Surveys
Sexual orientation
Measurement error
Interviewer effects
Survey methodology
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Creative Commons License: 
cc-by-nc-nd Logo
Document Type: 
Article
Document Version: 
Published Version

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