Measuring Sexual Orientation, Attraction, and Gender Identity Among Youth to Improve Outcomes

---

How to Take This Course:

• 1 View Course Worksheet -  View the course worksheet or print it out to review later
• 2 Read the Course Material -  As you read through, mark your answers on the course worksheet to be prepared for the exam
• 3 Take Exam -  You must achieve a score of 75% or higher in order to earn credit for the course.
• You don't need to pay for an exam until AFTER you pass it. If you have any questions or need more information, please click here.

---

CE Course Description

While understanding the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth is critical to promoting their healthy development and creating safe and supportive environments, collecting accurate data on their identities and complex personal characteristics is particularly challenging.  The purpose of this intermediate level continuing education course, developed using information from Child Trends, is to summarize recent efforts to develop more valid and reliable measures of adolescent sexual orientation and gender identity. Results from expert panel research and experience, cognitive interviews, and field tests are presented.

Author: Child Trends

CE Course Objectives

1. Discuss how sexual orientation and gender identity development impacts adolescents.
2. Define sexual orientation and gender and outline previous strategies for asking adolescents about sexual orientation and gender.
3. Identify expert panel recommendations to measure sexual orientation, to test sexual identity survey items, and to assess sexual attraction and perceived sexual orientation.
4. Summarize findings from cognitive interviews assessing whether respondents of survey items understand the questions being asked and are able to answer them.
5. Examine pilot test results analyzing sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) items in the dimensions of prevalence, item nonresponse, item bias, and internal validity.
6. Recognize implications for researchers and professionals as they explore measures of sexual orientation and gender identity to improve outcomes for youth.

CE Course Outline

Executive Summary (5 mins)

1. Overview of the course and its key objectives (5 mins)

Introduction (15 mins)

1. Defining sexual orientation and gender (5 mins)
2. Challenges in previous strategies for collecting SOGI data from adolescents (10 mins)

Sexual Orientation (20 mins)

1. Overview of sexual orientation measures (5 mins)
2. Recommendations for assessing (15 mins)
   1. Sexual Identity, Attraction, and Perceived Orientation (5 mins)
   2. Testing National Health Interview Survey items (5 mins)
   3. Best practices for age-appropriate and straightforward language (5 mins)

Gender and Gender Identity (25 mins)

1. Recommendations for measuring (25 mins)
   1. Gender at Birth and Gender Identity to identify transgender youth (15 mins)
   2. Challenges in item wording and placement on surveys (10 mins)

Cognitive Interview Findings (30 mins)

1. Insights from cognitive interviews on SOGI items (30 mins)
   1. Sexual Identity (5 mins)
   2. Sexual Attraction: Middle and High School (10 mins)
   3. Perceived Sexual Orientation and Current Gender Identity (10 mins)
   4. Summary and next steps (5 mins)

Final Items for Pilot Testing (20 mins)

1. Presentation of finalized items for (20 mins)
   1. Sexual Identity and Attraction (10 mins).
   2. Gender at Birth and Current Gender Identity (10 mins)

SOGI Item Pilot Test Results (30 mins)

1. Analysis of pilot test data (30 mins)
   1. Prevalence of students identifying as LGBT (10 mins)
   2. Nonresponse rates and item placement effects (10 mins)
   3. Analyses of item bias and data patterns (10 mins)

Field Test Summary and Recommendations (25 mins)

1. Summary of field test outcomes (10 mins)
2. Final recommendations for (15 mins)
   1. Fielding SOGI items with adolescents (5 mins)
   2. Incorporating SOGI items into ED-SCLS surveys (10 mins)

Conclusion (10 mins)

1. Recap of key findings and actionable steps (10 mins)

Total Time: 180 minutes (3 hours)
Course Level: Introductory

Course Date: 2018-02-01

Content License

Our courseware includes the text content found on our websites as well as video, audio, and exam questions that make up our courses. You can link to and access our courseware free of charge for personal use. You may not modify or redistribute our courseware under any circumstances.

Although we allow free access for personal use, you may not use our courseware for any commercial purposes without an agreement in place. This includes (but is not limited to) using our courseware for internal training, redistributing our courseware for sale, and copying all or parts of any of our courseware.

If you're interested in licensing our content for commercial purposes or have any other questions, please contact legal@edcompassedu.com.

Proprietary Interest Policy

We will disclose, in advance, any proprietary interest in any product, instrument, device, service, or material to be discussed during the learning event, as well as the source of any third-party compensation related to the presentation. This policy applies to both our organization and contractors. If such proprietary/financial interests exist, we will publish a disclaimer in marketing or instructional materials for a course.

No conflict of interest or relevant financial relationship was identified for this learning activity for individuals in a position to control content.

System Requirements

In order to view this course, you will need to be able to view a PDF document for the course material. If your device doesn't have the capability to view a PDF, you can click here to download Adobe Acrobat for free.

Special Needs

If you require ADA or other special needs accommodations, please contact us by email: support@mindfulceus.com or by phone 1-800-413-3797, so arrangements can be made.

‹ Return to Courses