Researching a sensitive topic: designing a mail survey of the perceptions of gay men with HIV/AIDS regarding social support received from the family of origin.
The purpose of this brief article is to describe some strategies for overcoming problems related to researching a "sensitive" research topic--the perceptions of gay men who are HIV+ or who have AIDS regarding the social support they receive from parents and siblings. The article discusses the rationale for the choice of a mail survey over a structured in-person interview, the development and pretest of the mail questionnaire and how a sample of respondents was located.
Kadushin
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School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 53201, USA.
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D015497:HIV-1; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D009626:Terminology as Topic