Participating in research investigations can help in many ways, such as advancing the understanding for professionals and thus helping those whom they serve & increasing understanding for those who participate in the study itself through the questions and self-reflection involved. Some studies offer a lottery or cash as reimbursement.

There may be also risks in participating in research, such as bringing up difficult material and emotions for the participate as well as loss of time in answering the questions. All research involves some level of risk and benefit, and each study request will identify what those risks and benefits would be.

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The Gay & Gender Research Organization keeps a list of research projects related to the LGBTQ community. Check out their list and resources here.

Check out also the Rockway Institute's Research and Public Policy activities.

Below are some research requests that are specific to the LGBTQ population or those that might interest such population:

• Gay Youth and Their Families: The goal of this NIH-funded intervention documentary is to increase awareness and acceptance for families who have gay teenagers. The researchers and filmmaker will be interviewing teens and their parents locally and possibly in Oakland, California and the East Coast. Click here for more information.

• Same-Sex Parents & Legal Parenting Rights: This 20-minute survey aks questions to learn about the experiences of same-sex parents in relationship to legal parenting rights. It's main purpose is in advocating for parents to be fully recognized in their family role and to not be discriminated against in family concerns. Click here for more information.

• Stress, Coping, Sexual Orientation: This 20-30 minute survey asks questions to understand the relationship between sexual orientation, and stress and coping. Click here for more information.

• Transgender Experiences With Therapy: This is an opportunity to participate in research about Transgender people conducted by a transgender woman regarding being assessed by a mental health professional prior to being accepted by a physician for hormones or surgery treatment. The purpose of this study is to gain information about the experiences that people have with the current edition of the Standards of Care (SOC) requirement of assessment that could be used by the authors of the next edition of the SOC to make it better for transgender people. The next edition is due to be published in 2011. Click here for more information.

• TALK TO GUS! GUS is the Gay and bisexual Utah Survey of men. Researchers from the University of Utah have teamed up with the Utah AIDS Foundation, Utah Pride Center, LGBT Resource Center and a number of other LGBT organizations, to conduct the largest gay and bisexual men’s health survey ever in the state of Utah! The goal of this survey is to learn about the experiences of gay and bisexual men in Utah and ultimately improve health services in our local community. Their goal is to get EVERY gay and bisexual man in Utah to do GUS. To do GUS online, just go to www.psych.utah.edu/gus. Already over 250 gay and bisexual men have done GUS. Help your community. Make your voice heard.

• How Close Relationships Affect Health: Researchers at the University of Utah are conducting a study focusing on how different patterns of interaction between same-sex couples affect physiological reactivity. All participants will be financially compensated. We are looking for couples who have been together for at least 6 months. The study involves visiting our laboratory, filling out questionnaires, and engaging in a videotaped discussion with your partner about daily events, areas of disagreement, and positive experiences while we assess your cardiovascular functioning. The findings will have important implications for understanding how close relationships influence physical health. For more information, visit http://research1.psych.utah.edu/study/family/

• Body Image & Feelings Toward Sexual Identity in Women Who Have Sex with Women: This anonymous survey is about relationship between body image and feelings toward sexual identity. The survey will ask you about your demographics (i.e., age, gender), sexual/relationship history, self-esteem, body esteem, and sexual orientation. This survey is expected to take about 10 minutes. Upon completion of the survey you will be eligible to receive a $5 Starbucks gift card. Click here for more information.

• Experiences of “Ex-Ex-Gay” Individuals: This study is designed to learn more about the experiences of people who (a) have gone through therapy or an intervention that was meant to change their sexual orientation, and (b) currently identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Persons who participate in this study will be asked to provide information such as sexual orientation, age, income, past experiences in therapy meant to change your sexual orientation, psychological symptoms, and religiosity. In order to participate in this study, participants must be at least 18 years of age. They will be given $15 for their participation, although the information that they provide will be invaluable to educating others about the experiences of ex-ex-gay individuals. Click here for more information.

• Families Headed by Gay Fathers: This study consists of an online survey and will take approximately 25- 35 minutes of each participant's time. To qualify for the study the participant would have to identify as male, a father, and gay, bisexual or homosexual and have a least one child of any age; this child can be biological, adopted, foster, step, or other child. A man does not need to be the child's legal parent to participate. Click here for more information.

• Seeking Same-Sex Couples for research study: Our research team at the University of Utah is conducting a study focusing on how different patterns of interaction between couples affect cardiovascular reactivity. All participants will be financially compensated. We are looking for couples who have been together for at least 9 months. The study involves visiting our research office at the University, filling out questionnaires, and engaging in a videotaped discussion with your partner about daily events, areas of disagreement, and positive experiences while we assess your cardiovascular functioning. The findings will have important implications for understanding how close relationships influence physical health. For more information, go to http://research1.psych.utah.edu/study/family/ to answer a few short screening questions and determine your eligibility, after which a research assistant will contact you directly with all of the details. You can also reach us at 581-3924. Feel free to pass along this message to friends and family that you think might be interested. Dr. Lisa Diamond, Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Utah.

• Experiences of Religion on LGBT Individuals and Their Relationships: Click here for a list of current projects.

• Gender and Sexual Orientation Differences in Scent Preferences, Mate Preferences, and a Variety of Other Behaviors. The survey has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of Barry University in Florida and takes about 25 minutes to complete. Click here for more information.

• Exploring older lesbian couples' experiences with aging, including issues related to work and retirement, caregiving, housing and assisted living, lesbian identity, and strengths related to getting older. $30 is given per couple (in which at least one partner is 60 years of age or older) to participate in a 60-90 minute initial interview and then a 30 minute follow-up. This is an opportunity for lesbian women to give voice to some of their concerns about aging, as well as a time to reflect positively on the meanings their experiences hold. Click here for more info.

• Exploring romantic relationships: This 30-minute study examines attitudes, feelings, and experiences associated with being lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Click here for more info.

• Exploring a full spectrum of female relationships: This 30-45 minute survey investigates female ideas of romantic relationships and investigates the experiences of women involved in committed romantic relationships with men as well as women in committed romantic relationships with other women. Click here for more info.

• The Relationship of Thought Suppression and Emotion Suppression to Lesbians' and Gay Men's Level of Outness: This 20-30 minute survey investigates the relationship of "outness" and authenticity to psychological distress. Click here for more info.

• Lesbian, gay, bisexual, bi-curious, queer, questioning, or otherwise same-sex attracted: This 20-30 minute survey is on the beliefs about sexual orientation held by same-sex -attracted people. Click here for more info.

• Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Relationships: This 20-minute study investigates the effects of homophobia, alcohol and drug use, and family relationships on intimate relationships. Click here for more info.

• Study on the Eating Behaviors of Gay Men: This 20-minute survey will donate $1 per participant who completes the survey to the Human Rights Campaign. Click here for more info.

• Research Study for Lesbian, Bisexual, and Questioning Women: The 30-minute study involves questions about experiences you may have had as a woman and as a lesbian/bisexual person, your connection to the LGB and feminist communities, ways you typically deal with stressful events, and psychological well-being. Click here for more info.

• Coming Out to Parents as a Lesbian or Bisexual Woman: The study's purpose is to learn more about the experiences and reactions that occur after coming out to parents. It should take 30 minutes to 1 hour to participate. Click here for more info.

• Lesbian Women of Color in a Relationship: This study will explore the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of minority stress and societal stressors related to being in a committed inter-ethnic lesbian of color relationship. Each member of the couple will take part in a face-to-face confidential individual interview and earn $30 each for 1½ to 2 hours. Click here for more info.

• Health Care Experiences of Gay Men and Women: This 30-minute survey is designed to gather the health care experiences of individuals who identify as same-gender-oriented (e.g., lesbian, gay). Participants who identify as bisexual, transgender, or intersex may feel that there are additional experiences that they have had with health care providers that are not asked about in this survey. Click here for more info.

• Homosexuality among Highly Religious Mormons: A Follow-Up Study: The criteria for inclusion in this study is individuals who deal with or have dealt with same sex attractions over the age of 18 who have/had a considerable investment in the LDS/Mormon Church [e.g. served a mission, temple attendance, important callings, regular church attendance & full tithe payer for a significant period of time, strong testimony, etc]. It is the perspectives of this group that is of interest to this study, and it may take 1 hour to participate. Click here for more info.

• Same-sex attracted individuals born in the LDS Church (practicing and non-practicing): This 20-minute study investigates the experiences of those who are “out” and/or practicing your LDS faith to help explain the effects of Mormon teachings and culture on same-sex attracted individuals. Click here for more info.

• Sexual Satisfaction in Relationships: The purpose of this 10-minutes survey is to gather information on what individuals think contributes to or detracts from sexual satisfaction in relationships. Click here for more info.

For Therapists:

• Experiences of LGB Psychologists-in-Training: This study explores the experiences of gay, lesbian, and bisexual counseling and clinical psychologists-in-training who have had at least two semesters of clinical supervision. The participants will be interviewed via telephone with regard to their experiences, with the interview taking approximately 1 to 2 hours. Click here for more information.

• LGB Therapists and Personal Relationships: This 20-30 minutes study will examine the impact of professional roles on the personal lives of LGB therapists. Click here for more information.

• Childhood Sexual Abuse: The purpose of this 20-25 minute study is to examine psychologists' attitudes and practices in the assessment of childhood sexual abuse with adult clients/patients. Click here for more info.

• White Therapists' Racial Attitudes: The purpose of this 25-30 minute study is to validate a new scale that measures racial attitudes of white mental health helping professionals and white mental health helping professionals-in-training. Click here for more info.