Introduction: Research on sexual orientation is common in psychology; however, much of the research is reliant on categorical conceptualizations of the construct. This approach reduces the understanding of sexual orientation to a demographic variable, forcing participants to condense experiences into discrete categories. It not only limits our insight into this important aspect of human experience but also slows the advance of scientific inquiry in this area.
Purpose: Since the publication of the Kinsey Scale, researchers have attempted to assess sexual orientation comprehensively. Most measures remain validated only among cisgender people and are not inclusive of sexual orientation towards gender diverse people. The purpose of this study is to further develop and refine one measure of sexual orientation, the Sexual Orientation Scale (SOS), by expanding its item pool and incorporating response options representative of gender diversity.
Method: The SOS consists of three domains: attraction, fantasy, and behavior that manifest across romantic and sexual contexts. The revised SOS (SOS-R) will be created and validated through a pilot and two main studies. The pilot will involve a literature review, expert review, and think-aloud protocol. Main studies will administer the SOS-R to a sample of women, men, and gender diverse adults in the United States.
Results: Descriptive and qualitative findings from the pilot study will be reported. Study one will present findings from a multi-level Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). Study two will include results from a multi-level Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and correlations between the SOS-R score and related psychological constructs (e.g., depression). We expect to complete data collection and preliminary data analyses by spring 2026.
Conclusions: The proposed project will offer evidence for the factor structure of the SOS-R and provide a comprehensive understanding of sexual orientation for individuals of different gender identities. Implications for research, education, and intervention will be discussed.