Getting off on sex research: A methodological commentary on the sexual desires of sex researchers (2016)

Jeremy N Thomas

Idaho State University, USA

Jeremy N Thomas, Department of Sociology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice, Idaho State University, 921 S. 8th Ave., Stop 8114, Pocatello, ID 83209-8114, USA. Email: [email protected]

D J Williams

Idaho State University, USA

Abstract

In this commentary, we show how self-disclosure can help elucidate the ways that the sexual desires of sex researchers can and do affect their research. We demonstrate this self-disclosure by exploring how our own sexual desires have affected some of our past research through influencing research project choices, methodological choices, methodological interactions, and research findings and conclusions. We propose that sex research of all kinds would benefit if sex researchers would be more willing to disclose their sexual desires and to consider and discuss how their sexual desires have affected their research.