Asking About Sexual Orientation on the 2021 Census in England and Wales: Research into Public Acceptability, Question Design, and Administration in Online and Paper Modes (303582)

Keywords: sexual identity, sexual orientation, census, qualitative research, focus groups, cognitive question testing, data collection modes, social desirability effect

In response to a public consultation on topics for the 2021 Census in England and Wales, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) received over 300 replies regarding sexual identity, one of the dimensions of the umbrella concept sexual orientation. The importance of collecting data for use in policy development, equality monitoring, resource allocation and service planning was identified by central and local government and the charity and voluntary sector.

Since 2010 ONS has asked a sexual identity question on social surveys and publishes data annually. The survey question was designed for interviewer administration. However, to provide accurate data at lower geographical levels on the proportionately small groups who identify as gay, lesbian and bisexual, census type statistics are required. To date no country has included a question on sexual identity or orientation in its census.

A program of qualitative and quantitative research was established, after which the evidence will be considered and a decision on whether to include sexual identity in the 2021 Census will be taken. The 2021 Census will be conducted primarily online.

This presentation describes the research so far, focusing on qualitative work undertaken to explore relevant issues and develop a question for inclusion in the 2017 Census Test survey. Focus groups and one-to-one cognitive testing/in-depth interviews were conducted with members of the public, exploring the conceptualization of sexual identity, comprehension of the question wording, suitability of terms, acceptability of the question’s inclusion in the Census and aspects relating to the census administration, including proxy response, within household privacy, potential for socially desirable answers and design for online and paper self-completion modes.

The 2017 test will include evaluation of the impact of sexual identity on overall response (a split sample experiment) and the quality of response to the question.