Graaf, H. de, Rademakers, J. The psychological measurement of childhood sexual development in Western societies: methodological challenges. Journal of Sex Research: 2011, 48(2), 118-129 This is a NIVEL certified Post Print, more info at http://www.nivel.eu Postprint Version 1.0 Journal website http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a934987733~db=all Pubmed link http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21409709 DOI 10.1080/00224499.2011.555929 This is a NIVEL certified Post Print, more info at http://www.nivel.eu The Psychological Measurement of Childhood Sexual Development in Western Societies: Methodological Challenges HANNEKE DE GRAAF 1 JANY RADEMAKERS 2 1 Rutgers WPF 2 NIVEL, The Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research Children can display sexual behavior or have sexual experiences. Different psychological research methods are available for studying these kinds of behaviors and feelings, such as interviewing or observing children (direct methods), asking adolescents or adults to retrospectively report their childhood memories or using intermediaries to observe children (indirect methods). Each of these methods has its own advantages and limitations. Based on a review of the literature, this work answers three questions: (a) What research methods are generally used to study childhood sexual development? (b) What insight do these methods give into the sexual behaviors or feelings of children? and (c) What are the advantages and limitations of each of these research methods in this research domain? Almost all studies on childhood sexual behavior and feelings use either observational or retrospective methods. In both types of studies, only behavior that is considered to be sexual from an adult perspective is reported. To gain insight into the child’s perspective, one has to rely on methods other than observations or retrospective research, such as interviews with children that match their developmental limitations and competencies. Most research on childhood sexuality focuses on sexual abuse. Of all publications in the PsychINFO, Medline, and Social SciSearch databases that combine child(ren) and sexual(ity) in their titles, only 1% do not treat sexual behavior of children as either a part or a consequence of sexual abuse. Because of the negative consequences that sexual abuse can have for its victims, it is understandable that people fear sexual abuse and that sexual abuse has been extensively studied. The strong focus on sexual abuse, however, can have some serious negative side effects. One possible effect is that children’s sexual behaviors or feelings are often assumed to be atypical and signs of sexual abuse (Bancroft, 2003). Children who have not been sexually abused, however, can also display sexual behaviors or feelings (De Graaf & Rademakers, 2006). To differentiate normative childhood sexual experiences from abuse, it is important to know what kinds of experiences can be expected of children. This will help parents and other educators to decide how to respond to these behaviors and feelings.