Social Research Methodologies to Understand LGBTQ+ Families

This chapter assesses the research methods used to study LGBTQ+ families and the implications of current knowledge for applied social research, practice, and policy. To explore the dynamics of interpersonal family relationships and multiple family members, one must need the complexity in conceptualizing and designing research with these populations. Mainstream methodologies often constrain approaches to the study of normative families. The concept of LGBTQ+ families challenges scholars to interrogate what normative is, including the research methods used. This chapter considers social sciences methodologies to describe what research exists or should exist about non-normative families, revisiting methods to address current challenges and opportunities in studying LGBTQ+ families.