Minding the Noise: Conducting Health Research Among Bisexual Populations and Beyond

Abstract

In this article, we draw upon our experiences conducting health-related studies with sexual minorities to suggest guidelines and best-practices for carrying out research among bisexual populations specifically. Too often bisexuality has been treated as “noise in the data,” because it does not conform to monosexual notions of sexual orientation. We discuss methodological, theoretical and conceptual concerns as they pertain to conducting research among bisexual persons. We hope that the insights we offer will prompt greater attention to bisexual groups and their specific concerns, not only among health researchers, but among those from other fields and disciplines as well.

Keywords:

• bisexual
• LGBT
• research
• health

Notes

1. We acknowledge that a single lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered community does not, in fact, exist.