title: Challenges and Opportunities for Research on Same-Sex Relationships.
abstract: Research on same-sex relationships has informed policy debates and legal decisions that greatly affect American families, yet the data and methods available to scholars studying same-sex relationships have been limited. In this article the authors review current approaches to studying same-sex relationships and significant challenges for this research. After exploring how researchers have dealt with these challenges in prior studies, the authors discuss promising strategies and methods to advance future research on same-sex relationships, with particular attention given to gendered contexts and dyadic research designs, quasi-experimental designs, and a relationship biography approach. Innovation and advances in the study of same-sex relationships will further theoretical and empirical knowledge in family studies more broadly and increase understanding of different-sex as well as same-sex relationships.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at Austin.
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Umberson
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at Austin.
authors.forename: Mieke Beth
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Thomeer
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at Austin.
authors.forename: Rhiannon A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kroeger
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at Austin.
authors.forename: Amy Caroline
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lodge
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at Austin.
authors.forename: Minle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
keywords: bisexual; gay; lesbian; marriage and close relationships; relationship processes; transgender