Same-sex sexual behaviour: US frequency estimates from survey data with simultaneous misreporting and non-response

Nathan Berg and Donald Lien

Applied Economics, 2006, vol. 38, issue 7, 757-769

Abstract: Survey-based research concerning sexual behaviour almost inevitably confronts the simultaneous problems of misreporting and non-response. These problems lead to disparities among estimates of the number and characteristics of those who engage in same-sex sexual behaviour. This paper proposes a statistical model to consistently estimate the frequency of same-sex sexual behaviour in the presence of non-ignorable misreporting and non-response. The model is fitted using 1991-2000 General Social Survey data. Frequency estimates corrected for simultaneous misreporting and non-response are reported. According to the model, 7.1% of US males and 4.1% of females - 15.8 million individuals - are not exclusively heterosexual. Allowing for misreporting and non-response increases the estimated same-sex frequency by more than four million. The model reveals new patterns between misreporting and non-response probabilities and standard demographic variables such as age and income.

Date: 2006
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DOI: 10.1080/00036840500427114

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