Jun 22, 2012 / 01:21 am
A group of social scientists has lamented the "sustained and sensational criticism" from news media about a study that showed increased difficulties and negative outcomes among young adult children of parents who have had same-sex relationships.
The 18 social scientists said that the research of University of Texas sociology professor Mark Regnerus is "not without limitations" but much of the criticism he has received is "unwarranted."
They noted that sociology professor Paul Amato, chair of the family section of the American Sociological Association and president of the National Council on Family Relations, said that Regnerus' study was "better situated than virtually all previously studies" to detect differences between different family groups in the U.S. population.
"We are disappointed that many media outlets have not done their due diligence in investigating the scientific validity of prior studies, and acknowledging the superiority of Regnerus' sample to most previous research," the social scientists said June 20 in a statement posted on the website of Baylor University's Institute for Studies of Religion.