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

C-Tier
Journal: Applied Economics
Year: 2006
Volume: 38
Issue: 7
Pages: 757-769

Authors (2)

Nathan Berg (University of Otago) Donald Lien (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.503 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 0.5x C-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

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.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:taf:applec:v:38:y:2006:i:7:p:757-769
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-24