The Size of the LGBT Population and the Magnitude of Anti-Gay Sentiment are Substantially Underestimated

Katherine B. Coffman, Lucas Coffman and Keith Ericson

No 19508, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: Measuring sexual orientation, behavior, and related opinions is difficult because responses are biased towards socially acceptable answers. We test whether measurements are biased even when responses are private and anonymous and use our results to identify sexuality-related norms and how they vary. We run an experiment on 2,516 U.S. participants. Participants were randomly assigned to either a "best practices method" that was computer-based and provides privacy and anonymity, or to a "veiled elicitation method" that further conceals individual responses. Answers in the veiled method preclude inference about any particular individual, but can be used to accurately estimate statistics about the population. Comparing the two methods shows sexuality-related questions receive biased responses even under current best practices, and, for many questions, the bias is substantial. The veiled method increased self-reports of non-heterosexual identity by 65% (p

JEL-codes: C90 D10 J10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp and nep-soc
Note: EH LS PE POL
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (25)

Published as The Size of the LGBT Population and the Magnitude of Antigay Sentiment Are Substantially Underestimated Katherine B. Coffman, Lucas C. Coffman, and Keith M. Marzilli Ericson Management Science 201763:10 , 3168-3186

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Journal Article: The Size of the LGBT Population and the Magnitude of Antigay Sentiment Are Substantially Underestimated (2017)
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