Revealing Assumptions

Abstract

ABSTRACT Over the last two decades, writers have urged researchers to provide conceptual definitions of sexual orientation in their work. Not only are definitions lacking but researchers have frequently cited support for their work from conceptually conflicting models of sexual orientation. The lack of conceptual integrity in much research in this area may be due to implicit, unexamined assumptions about sexual orientation. The result has been fragmented findings and weak explanatory models. This paper illustrates a variety of conceptual assumptions about sexual orientation found in published studies and suggests a strategy for explicating assumptions about sex and gender, sexual orientation, nature of being, role of biology and environment, and research methodology. The purpose of this paper is to unmask implicit social beliefs about same-sex attraction and attraction to both sexes and to promote reliable, testable models of sexual orientation. Such a practice is likely to expand and standardize the concept of sexual orientation. Although unmasking implicit assumptions will not prevent poorly conceived research from being conducted or published, routinely identifying conceptual assumptions in the literature will raise the standard for researchers and promote evaluation of theoretical models.