Does Varying the Order of Sexual Orientation Response Categories Change Population Estimates? Findings from a Nationally Representative Study of U.S. Adults.

This article examines how the order of response categories affects the measurement of sexual orientation in surveys of U.S. adults. Using a nationally representative sample of 2,099 adults in 2022, the study compared the standard response order—listing "lesbian or gay" first followed by "straight, that is, not lesbian or gay"—with an alternative order that presented "straight" first. Results showed no significant differences in sexual orientation estimates by response order, except for a lower proportion of "I don't know the answer" responses when "straight" was listed first. Younger adults were more likely to select "I don't know," suggesting this response may reflect sexual fluidity or uncertainty rather than nonresponse. The findings indicate that ordering response categories by population prevalence may reduce item nonresponse and improve data quality, though further research with larger samples and diverse survey modes is recommended.