Mapping the measurement and reporting of sex and gender in quantitative research in chaplaincy journals

Recognition is mounting that improvement is needed in measurement and reporting of sex and gender in research. These variables have been historically treated as binary, and although separate constructs, are often conflated in how they are measured and reported in studies collecting survey-based data. This review maps how sex and gender were measured and reported in quantitative studies published in three chaplaincy journals from 2020–2023. While the majority (71.7%) still report S/G using binary categories, more inclusive survey response options increased over time. Which construct is being measured and how are rarely specified, and S/G terms are used interchangeably or inaccurately, often by categorizing gender with sex terms male and female. These practices are common in studies published across medical and social fields. Shortcomings of current methodological guidance and recommendations for improvement are discussed.