Improving the Measurement of Gender in Surveys: Effects of Categorical Versus Open-Ended Response Formats on Measurement and Data Quality Among College Students.

This article focuses on comparing two survey response formats—categorical selection and open response—for measuring gender identity among university students. Using data from a 2021 campus climate survey of over 13,000 students at a large Midwestern university, the study finds that while the distribution of gender identities reported is similar across formats, the categorical selection format (which includes predefined options such as "man," "woman," "nonbinary," plus an open text field for other identities) yields lower item nonresponse rates and faster response times than the open response format. Additionally, both formats show comparable concurrent validity in relation to other survey outcomes, indicating neither format is superior in predictive associations. The findings suggest that for this population and context, a categorical selection format with an option for write-in responses is preferable, though open formats may better capture nuanced or emergent gender identities.