How to Capture Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity of Older Adults in Quantitative Surveys: Results from Cognitive Interview Analysis

Overview

This methodological study examines how older adults (aged 60+) understand and respond to survey questions about sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). Using cognitive interviews with 18 participants, researchers investigated the comprehension challenges faced by older populations who may have limited familiarity with SOGI-related terminology. The study found that while older adults often lack full understanding of SOGI terms, this rarely leads to incorrect responses. A unique finding specific to older populations was that cisgender heterosexual respondents who currently experience no romantic attraction might select 'asexual' as their sexual orientation identity. The research demonstrates the utility of cognitive interviewing for improving survey questions and contributes to developing standardized measurement tools for capturing SOGI across age groups. This work addresses a critical gap in quantitative research methodology, as previous studies have largely excluded older adults from SOGI surveys, potentially rendering sexual and gender minority elders invisible in demographic research.