Homosexuality has been a source of numerous disputes and conflicts in the today’s society. Recently, I have come across the article published in a Science magazine that exposed the faked study claiming that gay people can influence voters’ minds. The research was meant to be a scientific proof that a 20-minute interaction between representatives of minority and majority groups can help to reduce prejudice against homosexuality, and influence people in the voter’s household (Bohannon 1). Some months later it was revealed that one of the graduate students, Michael La Cour, simply fabricated the results of surveys which were supposedly taken by voters. The volunteers apparently conducted the survey, but they did raise the topic of same-sex marriages or homosexuality overall, but respondents were not surveyed about their opinions on that. Later on, it turned out that some interviewed people were asked not about transgender discrimination, but on recycling. In other checked cases, the interview included a survey only before measuring people’s attitudes regarding transgender people what does not correspond to the main principles of this type of social investigations. All in all, with such an amount of discrepancy, the study could not be considered seriously. It is sad that the story came to light only when other researchers discovered these discrepancies by trying to replicate the results (Hughes 2).
Why is this research so valuable for the LGBT community? Basically, the study set the goal to be the evidence of the “contact hypothesis” claiming that one-quarter of opponents of same-sex marriage changed their opinion after having an in-depth conversation with one of the representatives of the sexual minority. Thus, the social scientists of the Princeton University decided to make this belief scientifically well-grounded. I think this theory has its right for existence, as our views, thoughts or opinions are always influenced and shaped by our environment including people we come into contact with. Unfortunately, the prejudices against people of other sexual orientation are a part of a terrible daily reality. So, the basis of the survey is not just to spread awareness within the society, but ideally change people’s minds on the serious issue which influences many lives and makes many people suffer from not understanding (Bohannon 1).
In fact, there were more than several survey-based proofs of the “contact evidence”. For example, according to the results of the Georgia State University survey, people who have LGBTs among their friends or acquaintances more likely to support gay rights or, at least, gain a better understanding of the gay policies (Hughes 2). However, this old survey data cannot be of great help in dealing with a quite difficult hypothesis. That is why the idea to interview independent respondents and then compare their opinions before and after contact with a gay person could lift the veil on the issue. Thus, this loss of knowledge is nothing, but a huge disappointment.
Being also interested in the result of the survey, the LGBT Center examined its results very attentively. The organization needed the study for the development of the persuasion techniques allowing influencing individuals to accept other opinions which earlier seem to be unacceptable. For example, if to invite a person to discuss his/her own experience of unfair treatment, it would help generate sympathy for the suffering of others. Generally, the topic of transgender people or homosexuality is relatively new, so it may take much time till the society shows more understanding of it. Thus, it is worth to work in the direction of explanation to deliver information concerning such “controversies” as gay marriages to different social groups (Bohannon 1).
Works Cited
Bohannon, John. "For Real This Time: Talking To People About Gay And Transgender Issues Can Change Their Prejudices". Science (2016): n. pag. Web. 10 Apr. 2016.
Hughes, Virginia. 2015. "Journal Retracts Faked Study About Gay People Changing Voters' Minds". Buzzfeed.com. Web. 10 Apr. 2016.
