Evidence of pro-homosexual bias in social science: citation rates and research on lesbian parenting.
Three refereed journal articles concerning lesbian family life were identified and compared for content and methodological quality. The articles shared the same authors, same academic institution of origin, the same samples, similar dates of publication, and even the same journals. However, one article reported evidence less supportive of lesbian parenting while two articles reported evidence more supportive of lesbian parenting. Citation rates for the articles were compared. The supportive reports have been cited 28 to 37 times since their publication compared to only two citations for the less supportive report, in spite of its possibly better methodological qualities. The citation rate differences were statistically significant. Implications for this possible evidence of pro-homosexual bias in the social sciences are discussed.
School of Family Studies and Human Services, Justin Hall, Kansas State University, 1700 Anderson Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506-1403, USA. schumm@ksu.edu
Walter R
WR
Schumm
D035841:Behavioral Research / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D055811:Journal Impact Factor; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D017594:Publication Bias / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012942:Social Sciences / Q000379:methods*