Children of same-sex couples are happier and healthier than peers, research show

[sbr]

A better comparison for this type of thing would be to compare to hetero couples that adopt/use surrogacy, for all of the reasons everyone else pointed out.

I'm not really sure why one would need that comparison. Despite the headline from the WP, I would think the point of the research would be to show, as CC noted, that gay parents are just as capable as the general population of straight parents.  I'm struggling to think of a benefit from research designed to show if motivated gay couples are better than motivated straight couples.

Because this study could be comparing apples to shitty people who never wanted kids anyway.

[frunk]

I'm not really sure why one would need that comparison. Despite the headline from the WP, I would think the point of the research would be to show, as CC noted, that gay parents are just as capable as the general population of straight parents.  I'm struggling to think of a benefit from research designed to show if motivated gay couples are better than motivated straight couples.

Mostly so the guy could make a statement like this and not sound like an idiot:

Crouch suggested the greater social cohesion among same-sex families comes from an equal distribution of work. He said same-sex couples are likely to share responsibilities more equally than heterosexual ones.

[garbon]

A better comparison for this type of thing would be to compare to hetero couples that adopt/use surrogacy, for all of the reasons everyone else pointed out.

I'm not really sure why one would need that comparison. Despite the headline from the WP, I would think the point of the research would be to show, as CC noted, that gay parents are just as capable as the general population of straight parents.  I'm struggling to think of a benefit from research designed to show if motivated gay couples are better than motivated straight couples.

Because this study could be comparing apples to shitty people who never wanted kids anyway.

But that's a part of the population that you can't really waive. I mean unless you are saying that the population norms they have compared to are biased to having too much representation from shitty didn't want to be raising children families.

[garbon]

I'm not really sure why one would need that comparison. Despite the headline from the WP, I would think the point of the research would be to show, as CC noted, that gay parents are just as capable as the general population of straight parents.  I'm struggling to think of a benefit from research designed to show if motivated gay couples are better than motivated straight couples.

Mostly so the guy could make a statement like this and not sound like an idiot:

Crouch suggested the greater social cohesion among same-sex families comes from an equal distribution of work. He said same-sex couples are likely to share responsibilities more equally than heterosexual ones.

Do we care that much about how Crouch looks?

Besides don't a lot of studies end up with the undertakers theorizing a bit at the end? I don't have access to the actual paper but below is from something that is a bit closer to source* (cited by WaPo and then it has link directly to paper).

*actually this is the source insofar as it is an article written by Crouch. I'd say that WaPo sentence isn't a fair summary of what he wrote.

http://theconversation.com/kids-from-same-sex-families-fare-as-well-as-peers-or-better-28803

Our findings support and strengthen the existing international research undertaken with smaller sample sizes.

Interestingly, there is growing evidence to suggest that the structure of same-sex parent families, particularly in relation to work and home duties, plays an important part in how well families get along. Same-sex parents, for instance, are more likely to share child care and work responsibilities more equitably than heterosexual-parent families.

It is liberating for parents to take on roles that suit their skills rather than defaulting to gender stereotypes, where mum is the primary care giver and dad the primary breadwinner. Our research suggests that abandoning such gender stereotypes might be beneficial to child health.

[Valmy]

A better comparison for this type of thing would be to compare to hetero couples that adopt/use surrogacy, for all of the reasons everyone else pointed out.

I'm not really sure why one would need that comparison. Despite the headline from the WP, I would think the point of the research would be to show, as CC noted, that gay parents are just as capable as the general population of straight parents.  I'm struggling to think of a benefit from research designed to show if motivated gay couples are better than motivated straight couples.

I think many studies have already shown this have they not?  I don't think anybody thinks gay couples are less capable unless they are already extremely anti-gay or very traditional.  But if it changes some minds that will be great.

[Malthus]

A better comparison for this type of thing would be to compare to hetero couples that adopt/use surrogacy, for all of the reasons everyone else pointed out.

I'm not really sure why one would need that comparison. Despite the headline from the WP, I would think the point of the research would be to show, as CC noted, that gay parents are just as capable as the general population of straight parents.  I'm struggling to think of a benefit from research designed to show if motivated gay couples are better than motivated straight couples.

I don't think anyone here at least doubts that gays can make just as good parents. We are just, in typically Languish style, nit-picking the odd-seeming conclusions drawn from the data by this scientist.

[garbon]

A better comparison for this type of thing would be to compare to hetero couples that adopt/use surrogacy, for all of the reasons everyone else pointed out.

I'm not really sure why one would need that comparison. Despite the headline from the WP, I would think the point of the research would be to show, as CC noted, that gay parents are just as capable as the general population of straight parents.  I'm struggling to think of a benefit from research designed to show if motivated gay couples are better than motivated straight couples.

I think many studies have already shown this have they not?  I don't think anybody thinks gay couples are less capable unless they are already extremely anti-gay or very traditional.  But if it changes some minds that will be great.

I don't know. Suggestion here seemed to be that this study had (while still small) a larger sample size than many of the previous studies.

Also, to build a narrative, you have to keep reminding people.

[garbon]

I don't think anyone here at least doubts that gays can make just as good parents.

I'd say you are being overly generous.

[Valmy]

I don't think anyone here at least doubts that gays can make just as good parents. We are just, in typically Languish style, nit-picking the odd-seeming conclusions drawn from the data by this scientist.

Yeah it was a WTF sort of moment.  That seemed like a hilarious leap.  'The 6% advantage found in our study suggests that thousands of cultures throughout the world are wrong'

Wait, slow down cowboy.

[Valmy]

Also, to build a narrative, you have to keep reminding people.

True that.

[Malthus]

I don't think anyone here at least doubts that gays can make just as good parents. We are just, in typically Languish style, nit-picking the odd-seeming conclusions drawn from the data by this scientist.

Yeah it was a WTF sort of moment.  That seemed like a hilarious leap.  'The 6% advantage found in our study suggests that thousands of cultures throughout the world are wrong'

Wait, slow down cowboy.

Yup, a clear example of a researcher seeing what he wants to see.

To answer the question as to why anyone should give a shit when the importance of the study is to demonstrate gays can make just as good parents - the reason is that spouting odd-sounding theories brings the researcher into doubt, and hence can be used by those with a vested interest in demonstrating that gays make crappy parents to discredit the study.

[Admiral Yi]

Grab On has a good point.  Presumably the question driving this study is whether a child is harmed by being raised by a self selecting same sex couple.  No one is suggesting randomly handing out orphans to gay couples by lottery.

[Valmy]

No one is suggesting randomly handing out orphans to gay couples by lottery.

Though that does sound like a hilarious new network sitcom.

[crazy canuck]

Grab On has a good point.  Presumably the question driving this study is whether a child is harmed by being raised by a self selecting same sex couple.  No one is suggesting randomly handing out orphans to gay couples by lottery.

Agreed.  That should have been have been the conclusion of the research rather than, as Malthus pointed out, reaching for a conclusion not available on the data observed.

On the other hand, given the data, on average children would be better off if they were given to gay couples through a lottery system 

[Eddie Teach]

I don't think anyone here at least doubts that gays lesbians can make just as good parents.