Reflections on ‘science’, ‘objectivity’ and personal investment in lesbian, gay and bisexual psychology

Abstract

In February 2002, Stuart Bell initiated a discussion on The British Psychological Society’s Lesbian & Gay Psychology Section e-mail list concerning the possible effects of researchers’ personal investments in their research topics in lesbian, gay and bisexual psychology. Other Section members subsequently contributed to this discussion and took it in new but related directions. It was suggested that the content of the discussion might be of interest to all Section members and so the editors of Lesbian & Gay Psychology Review contacted the contributors and sought their permission to reproduce the discussion in this journal. All contributors duly granted their permission and the discussion is presented below.