The Cochran-Mosteller-Tukey Report on the Kinsey Study: A Symposium

Abstract

This article revisits the assessment that a committee specially appointed by the American Association of Statistics, made of Alfred Kinsey's book "The Sexual behavior of the Human Male", published in 1948. The committee, formed by William G. Cochran, Frederick Mosteller, and John W. Tukey, critically analyzed the methodology of the research while maintaining a somewhat benevolent attitude, justifying mistakes of the researcher given the circumstances and the nature of the investigation. In spite of objections of a statistical nature, the "Kinsey Report" had great influence on the education of adolescents and children, laws on sexual offences and even the private behavior of many Americans. Over time, many analysts have been discovering more and more details on Kinsey's modus operandi, and the influence his own personality exercised into his work. The article analyzes the original assessment and raises questions about whether the Statistical Committee should have clarified, while using statistical means, a more open and clear set of serious objections, both technical and ethical, to the “Kinsey Report