The Reluctant Respondent

Abstract

For twenty-two years, we, at the Institute for Sex Research, have been interviewing people about their sexual experiences from their earliest memories to the moment of giving a history.In this period of time we have interviewed over 18,000 persons ranging in age from three to ninety, and extending across the entire spectrum of social, educational, and intellectual levels.One of the experiences that has impressed us throughout this research and, frankly, an experience that even now still amazes us, is the willingness of persons to talk openly and completely about their sexual lives even though the information they give could, in many cases, do them irreparable harm if it became publicly known.Although the topic under discussion is "The Reluctant Respondent," I would like to emphasize that most of our interviewees were not reluctant to give their histories once they became convinced that certain basic requirements were to be met.We have found that there are only three such requirements: (1) that this research be important, needed, and useful to others, (2) that the information given to us be kept in confidence, and (3) that as interviewers we do not judge or morally evaluate the sexual experiences that our respondents tell us about.The first requirement can best be met by pointing out to respondents that psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and counselors are continually involved in helping people with sexual problems, and only through research can they secure the knowledge they need in this area.Also school teachers, ministers, lawyers, and parents have a great need for this type of research.On occasion we point out the wide disparity between the laws on sexual behavior and actual sexual behavior in our population.When people learn that the great majority in our country could be doing prison time because of their sexual activity, they are willing to agree that further research on the matter is needed.To expedite the second requirement, that the information will be kept confidential, we have devised a code which enables us to record material at the time of the interview as rapidly as necessary and in such condensed form that on a single 8y z by 11 sheet of paper we can secure the equivalent of twenty to twenty-five typewritten pages of material.