Labeling Matters Less Than Thought? Dismantling Person-Positivity in Public Opinion Research

This study examines how terminology affects attitudes toward gays and lesbians.

Methodology: A survey experiment manipulated question wording with different descriptors (person vs sexuality construct) and terminology types (colloquial vs clinical). The analysis included feeling thermometer scores.

Key Findings: Respondents rated personal terms more positively than clinical ones, suggesting a person-positivity bias. However, despite using only clinical terminology, the study found evidence for this bias.

Implications: Survey researchers must consider wording effects on responses. Yet these impacts are not universal and generally smaller than differences based on social/political backgrounds.