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New USU study to examine experiences of gay Mormons.

Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 6:18 pm
by _RayAgostini
FYI:

The following text has been sent to potential participants in the survey:

“The questions in this survey focus on how LDS people have experienced same-sex attraction through time, their beliefs about the nature of homosexuality, any experience they may have had in attempting to understand or alter their orientation, the current state of satisfaction with their lives and their feeling about and relationship with the church.

“We believe that the overall impact of this study will be positive; that is, that the information obtained will be accurate, dispel myths, and promote understanding and good will. Your responses are confidential and no individual will be identifiable in any report of the results of this study unless they choose to be identified. It will require about 30 minutes of your time to complete this survey.”

To participate in the study, click here.


New USU study to examine experiences of gay Mormons.

Re: New USU study to examine experiences of gay Mormons.

Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 6:21 pm
by _bcspace
We believe that the overall impact of this study will be positive; that is, that the information obtained will be accurate, dispel myths, and promote understanding and good will.


How scientific is a fixed outcome?

Re: New USU study to examine experiences of gay Mormons.

Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 6:22 pm
by _Buffalo
bcspace wrote:
We believe that the overall impact of this study will be positive; that is, that the information obtained will be accurate, dispel myths, and promote understanding and good will.


How scientific is a fixed outcome?


CFR that the outcome is fixed

Re: New USU study to examine experiences of gay Mormons.

Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 7:48 pm
by _bcspace
CFR that the outcome is fixed


Self-evident. They already believe they know the outcome of the survey. Hence, it is likely desingned to produce exactly those results. And of course they signal that to potential respondents. Analogous to leading the witness.

Re: New USU study to examine experiences of gay Mormons.

Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 8:08 pm
by _Buffalo
bcspace wrote:
CFR that the outcome is fixed


Self-evident. They already believe they know the outcome of the survey. Hence, it is likely desingned to produce exactly those results. And of course they signal that to potential respondents. Analogous to leading the witness.


You're probably smarter than that. No one does a survey without expectations/predictions of what the results might be.

Kudos for poisoning the well before the results even come out though. You probably realize that scientific and other factual data will almost always do damage to your world view.

Re: New USU study to examine experiences of gay Mormons.

Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 8:33 pm
by _RayAgostini
bcspace wrote:Self-evident. They already believe they know the outcome of the survey. Hence, it is likely desingned to produce exactly those results. And of course they signal that to potential respondents. Analogous to leading the witness.


It's possible to read through all of the questions yourself. Click on the link, go to the survey, and agree to proceed. Even without answering a single question you can view the whole survey and what questions they ask. It's very detailed survey with multiple choice answers. It's not possible to know the outcome of this. Perhaps they already know a general trend that may occur, given the experiences of many Gay people in the Church, but nothing is "fixed" about the survey. The questions are wide open, and it's an opportunity to understand how they feel about a range of issues.

Renee Galliher, a psychology professor at Utah State University, is conducting a study to learn more about the experiences of members of the LDS Church who are attracted to members of their same sex.
(Emphasis added)

Bill Bradshaw, an emeritus Brigham Young University biology professor and father of a gay son, also is working on the study. Bradshaw and his wife direct Family Fellowship, a support group for Mormon families with gay and lesbian loved ones.


“The questions in this survey focus on how LDS people have experienced same-sex attraction through time, their beliefs about the nature of homosexuality, any experience they may have had in attempting to understand or alter their orientation, the current state of satisfaction with their lives and their feeling about and relationship with the church."