The document summarizes and evaluates a study by sociologist Mark Regnerus on same-sex parenting. It discusses how the study was slightly biased as it did not account for the legal and social situation for same-sex couples during the childhoods of participants. It also notes the challenges in doing unbiased research on politically controversial topics like same-sex marriage, such as small sample sizes. However, it concludes that Regnerus conducted his research ethically even if the study had flaws, and researchers should aim for representative sample sizes and uphold research ethics.

1. JOURNAL-
Last week we discussed the controversial “New Family
Structures Study” by sociologist Mark Regnerus, and we saw
how fundamental differences in values and assumptions about
human nature can result in intractable disagreements about how
to interpret the facts of human society. In this 1-3 page Journal
reflection, analyze the values that influence research bias, as
illustrated by the Regnerus case. Explain the differing
assumptions that lead Mark Regnerus and his critics to opposing
conclusions about the same data, and evaluate the possibility of
value-neutral research about such controversial topics.
WEEK 3 ASSIGNMENT FOR REFERENCE
Was Regnerus's research biased?
The research was slightly biased. The study did not
acknowledge the timeframe of the childhood of their
participants. The participants underwent childhood between
1971 and 1994. This was a period where the same-sex
relationships were outlawed and shunned by the society;
therefore, the families of the same sex couples could not be
stable or integrated at the time (Saletan, 2012). The research
also did not have many classifications for their participants. The
intact biological families did not factor in the possibility of
having broken homes, but this factor was considered in the
lesbian mother and gay father families.
Is it possible to do unbiased research on a politically
controversial topic like same-sex marriage?
Doing unbiased research on such a controversial topic is hard.
This is because of the challenges that the researcher faces

2. during the research process. The researcher will often encounter
a relatively small sample size in the society from which they
can draw conclusions. Since the sample size is not
representative of the entire population, it may yield biased
results (Umberson, Thomeer, Kroeger, Lodge, & Xu, 2015). It is
also hard to get a comparison group for the research. This is
because of the distinct demographic of the people in the same-
sex marriage. These individuals tend to be young, educated and
not willing to have a family. It is hard to find a group to
compare such individuals too, which may make the research
biased.
Should liberals take Regnerus's research thoughtfully, even if
they disagree with his conclusion?
Yes, they should. The study, even though flawed, exposed a
very important fact; the children from broken homes of the gays
have the same issues as children from broken heterosexual
homes. This shows that family integrity is essential with every
type of home (Saletan, 2012). The investigation also revealed
that the effect of broken homes was higher in the gay families
than in the heterosexual families. Many of the children who
grew up in broken same-sex relationships reported a lower
quality of their life than their counterparts. The liberals should
take these points into consideration as they are vital for the
proper growth of the children.
Did Regnerus break any principles of research ethics? What
lessons about research can we learn from this controversy?
He did not violate any of the research ethics. He obtained the
consent of the participants before deriving data from them and
ensured that the study did not harm them in any way (Kimmel,
2007). The research was only biased, but it was conducted in an
ethical manner. The lessons we learn are that when one is
conducting research, they should ensure that their sample size is

3. reflective of the entire population and shows the characteristics
of the entire population. This will ensure that they get final
unbiased results that will be accepted by all people. One should
also ensure that they uphold the research ethics when
conducting their research. This will ensure that one receives
validation for their work.
References
Kimmel, A. (2007).
Ethical issues in behavioral research: basic and applied
perspectives
. Oxford, UK Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub.
Saletan, W. (2012, June 11). Back in the Gay. Slate. Accessed
on 2017, April 12. Retrieved from:
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/human_nature
/2012/06/new_family_structures_study_is_gay_parenthood_bad
_or_is_gay_marriage_good_.html
Umberson, D., Thomeer, M. B., Kroeger, R. A., Lodge, A. C., &
Xu, M. (2015). Challenges and Opportunities for Research on
Same-Sex Relationships.
Journal of Marriage and the Family
,
77
(1), 96–111.
http://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12155