A scoping review of good methodological practices in research involving transgender, non-binary, and two-spirit youth

Abstract

Transgender, non-binary, two-spirit, and other gender non-conforming (GNC) youth have been the focus of increasing scholarly attention over the past decade. A scoping review method was applied to this growing body of literature to identify good practices and important themes in conducting research with GNC youth. A body of non-clinical, English-language scholarship was identified utilizing keywords relating to GNC youth, methods, and methodologies via searches in 33 databases, 3 specific journals, and other online sources. These works were then analyzed for good practices, with themes emerging related to institutional review boards (IRBs) and assent/consent, advisory boards and community involvement, recruitment, identity descriptions, adultism, youth agency and voice, intersectionality, knowledge mobilization, and researcher reflexivity.

Keywords:

• Methodology
• methods
• youth
• transgender
• literature review

Acknowledgements

Thank you to the anonymous reviewers for their encouraging tone and constructive feedback that improved this article. I’m grateful for their labour and that of other journal volunteers who make this publication possible. Drs. Travers and Jennifer Marchbank (Simon Fraser University) both provided helpful feedback and support. Luke McLeod assisted with editing.

Disclosure statement

The author reports there are no competing interests to declare.

Notes

1 While “best practices” may be a more familiar phrase, what is “best” may vary substantially across contexts (Gagné, 2021). I use the term “good practices” in recognition of this viewpoint.

2 These databases include: EBSCO (Education Source; Academic Search Premier; AgeLine; Alternative Press Index; America: History & Life; Anthropology Plus; Applied Science & Technology; Bibliography of Asian Studies; Bibliography of Native North Americans; Business Source Complete; CINAHL Complete; Communication & Mass Media Complete; Criminal Justice Abstracts; eBook collection; ERIC; Humanities Source; MEDLINE; Political Science Complete; APA PsycArticles, PsycBooks, PsycInfo; Social Sciences Full Text, SPORTDiscus; Women’s Studies International; and Core Curriculum), JSTOR, Project MUSE, Proquest Sociology, Proquest Dissertations & Theses, SAGE Journals, SAGE Research Methods, Sociological Abstracts, and Taylor & Francis Online.

3 These journals include: Journal of LGBT Youth, Transgender Studies Quarterly, and Gender & Society.

4 Not reported, but attended 12 multi-day conferences for GNC families; 8 professional conferences; 80 interviews with parents/guardians of GNC youth, shadowed two organizations dedicated to GNC youth

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada in the form of Doctoral Fellowship #752-2020-3079.

Notes on contributors

Kathleen J. Reed

Kathleen J. Reed is a Doctoral Candidate in the Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies at Simon Fraser University. They are also employed at Vancouver Island University as a Professor in the Department of Studies in Women’s Studies, and an Assessment and Data Librarian.