Measuring Sex, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation for the National Institutes of Health

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is undertaking a study to review current measures and the methodological issues related to measuring sex as a non-binary construct, gender identity, and sexual orientation in surveys and research studies, in administrative settings (such as grant and job applications), and in clinical settings (such as doctors’ offices or clinical trials). As part of its information-gathering activities, the panel will hold a virtual, 1.5-day public workshop to get input from researchers in sexual and gender minority health and well-being, academic and government researchers doing work on measuring these concepts, members of sexual and gender diverse populations, and policy makers and other users of these data. The panel will produce a consensus report with conclusions and recommendations on 1) guiding principles for collecting data on sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation, and 2) recommended measures for these constructs in different settings.

The study will be carried out by a committee of approximately 8-10 volunteer experts in the fields of:
Sexual and gender minority health research, survey design and methodology, and statistics, alternative sources of data, such as relevant administrative records, electronic health records, and other data.

The National Academies are committed to enhancing diversity and inclusion in order to strengthen the quality of our work. Diverse perspectives contribute to finding innovative approaches and solutions to challenging issues. We encourage the nomination of volunteers who reflect the populations we serve and also welcome in particular nominations of candidates from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, women, and early- and mid-career professionals.

We invite you to submit nominations for committee members and/or reviewers for this study by February 22, 2021.

Contact information:
Name: Tara Becker
Email: TBecker@nas.edu
Phone: 202-334-3456
Project Website Link

Alt. Contact:
Name: Eric Grimes
Email: ErGrimes@nas.edu