Researcher-participant relationships in journal reports on gay men and lesbian women

To assess the ethical nature of research relationships between investigators and gay and lesbian participants we reviewed 351 reports on homosexuality in three major and 75 miscellaneous journals from 1974 to 1988. We found that authors rarely involved participants beyond the role of providing data, generally did not report conditions of consent, rarely reported feedback, and almost never indicated using data to promote social action. In addition, authors typically relied on the term "subjects" and on a depersonalized, decontextualized writing style. There were some differences among journals, over time, and among authors' disciplines. Male authors tended to study men exclusively, whereas female authors' relation to participants' gender was more varied. Believing that research with gay men and lesbian women should not detract from their emancipation, we offer some recommendations for research practice and report-writing which are designed to better protect research participants and to produce more valid knowledge.