MRS Best Practice Guide: Collecting Data on Sex and Gender

Introduction

MRS has produced this Guidance Note to help practitioners act legally and ethically in collecting data and asking research participants questions on biological sex, gender and gender identity.

Scope

Practitioners are required to give priority to local laws and guidance i.e., where research practice takes place. This guidance is focusing on the collection of data from the UK, although the general principles and examples could apply and/or be adapted for other countries depending upon the cultural and language norms for collecting data on sex and gender. Also, it follows that in countries where it is not lawful to have a same sex relationship, it is inappropriate to ask the sex and gender questions.

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