What do you already know?
Before you start developing your own research, start by reviewing the research that already exists.
On Sexual and Gender Diversities, appallingly little is available outside of the main western countries, but among what’s there, here are some useful surveys you can look at:
South African attitudes survey (“progressive prudes”)
Global survey on attitudes towards Transgender people
PEW center Global Social Survey
Reports about the situation of sexual and gender minorities can also sometimes provide useful information on the social climate but they often come with important limitations:
- They focus on the most violent / visible expressions of stigma and discrimination. So they will not necessarily help identify the “movable middle”
- They are often anecdotal (based on individual cases) and don’t analyse the situation in terms of social groups)
Attitudes towards Sexual and Gender Minorities must also be understood in connection to other issues, such as misogyny, patriarchy, etc. so it’s always useful to have a wide view on social climates. General social studies provide useful elements for this.
Do you know about other research on attitudes towards Sexual and Gender Minorities? Post them as comments below to help fellow campaigners!
As you progress in your research you will need to develop personal responses to the following questions:
- What are your research goals?
- What questions will you ask?
- What research methodology will you use?
Don’t worry if you can’t answer these questions just yet! For now write these down in your notebook and be sure to make notes on each, as you deepen your knowledge in this lesson on research.
There are two fundamental approaches to research. These are known – and separated – as quantitative and qualitative.