The Impact of Parents Sexual Orientation on Children's Intellectual and Personal Development
Omari Johnson, Daniel Phillips, Ashley Sommers
University of Phoenix
Research and Statistics in Human Services
BSHS/435
Megan Hild
September 16, 2014
Abstract
In the current culture of the United States of America, parenting by same-sex couples is at the forefront of the social issues being faced. In this study the researchers are looking for correlations between the sexual orientation of parents and their children’s personal and intellectual development. The study will take place in eight cities in various regions of the United States of America. In each city participants will be given various surveys and questionnaires to evaluate child development and to determine the demographics of the family. All participants will be volunteers and will be families with either same-sex couples or heterosexual couples, not including couples where there are step-parents. The results of these surveys and questionnaires will be analyzed to determine if the sexual orientation of the parents impacts any of the variables of child development. The variables being considered are coping styles, friendship, relationship quality, self-esteem, and intellectual development. The goal of this study is to provide evidence to be used during any policy discussions related to the fitness of same-sex couples to parent. The researchers predict that the findings will show that there is no negative impact on children raised by same-sex couples. These predictions are based on previous studies which have looked at single developmental variables but have also compared the impact of same-sex versus heterosexual parents. The findings of this study will be represented in a formal presentation including both descriptive and inferential statistics. The statistics will be used to illustrate and clarify how the results of the study led the researchers to their conclusions.

The Impact of Parents Sexual Orientation on Children's Intellectual and Personal Development
Introduction
The impact of the sexual orientation of parents on their children’s development is an oft debated subject; however, the evidence available is minimal and can be biased. Too many of the debates about same-sex couples and their fitness to parent use prejudiced and even false information. Unfortunately, this information is being used to determine laws and treatment of same-sex couples with children. One of the worst uses of biased and false research is that in cases of the death of the biological parent in same-sex couples, the partner is not necessarily considered the next choice for raising the child. Many states have laws related to the children’s best interest, which tends to find that remaining with the non-biological parent is not in their best interest, regardless of the fact that this person has already been raising the child. Additionally, there are many states in which same-sex couples are not allowed to adopt which is both unfair to those children who are in foster care and leaves same-sex couples with only one real option for having children. These situations cry out for a thorough and unbiased study that provides actual facts and provable statistics in order to correct many unfair situations. Based on current research we have a nice, solid basis for understanding some of the factors that are influencing the children of gay parents. From what we have been able to see, there is quite a bit of writing and research that points towards the fact that the children of gay parents are no worse or better-off than the adopted children of heterosexual parents. While this research is encouraging in regards to the potential findings of the proposed study, it is necessary to acknowledge where that research is lacking.
Literature Review
In the articles found for this literature review, the impact of same-sex parents and the in school success of their children is a recurring theme. In one article, the