No such inference is justified by this guidance. Missing identity information should not be replaced with assumptions from names or appearance.
Source basis: 1. Research integrity and peer review · 2. Autism : the international journal of research and practice
Identify what was actually measured
SAGER addresses attention to sex and gender across research design, analysis and interpretation. A reader needs the operational definition, collection method and available response categories. A variable labelled sex in one dataset and gender in another may not be directly comparable. Researchers should explain what the field records rather than silently treating the labels as interchangeable.
Separate representation from a causal explanation
A study can report its sample composition without explaining why that composition occurred. Recruitment, eligibility and missing data may shape who appears in the analysis. AASPIRE’s accessibility guidance is relevant to the participation process, but does not establish why any particular group is underrepresented. Avoid attributing diagnostic characteristics or causes to women, girls or gender-diverse people without appropriate evidence.
Use the historical guidance with its stated limits
SAGER was published in 2016 and does not explicitly resolve every issue for gender-diverse populations. An inclusive contemporary protocol needs context-sensitive terminology and an appropriate involvement process. This is a reason to document decisions and limits, not to infer identities or fill missing fields algorithmically.
| Focus | What to document | Interpretation question or limit |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | What construct and response options were used? | Preserve the original field meaning |
| Reporting | Which groups and missing values are visible? | Do not infer identity from other attributes |
| Interpretation | Which explanations are supported by the design? | Separate description from speculation |
Limitations and unresolved questions
This article offers no sex-specific diagnostic criteria or clinical advice. Reporting guidance is not evidence about individual presentation or assessment needs.
Implications for research and institutions
Include a data dictionary and an explanation of any aggregation. Where privacy requires suppression of small groups, describe the handling without revealing sensitive information or implying that suppressed observations are absent.
Research question
Can a researcher infer gender from names to complete missing data?
No such inference is justified by this guidance. Missing identity information should not be replaced with assumptions from names or appearance.
Verified source bibliography
- Heidari S; Babor TF; De Castro P et al. (2016). Sex and Gender Equity in Research: rationale for the SAGER guidelines and recommended use.. Research integrity and peer review · DOI
- Nicolaidis C; Raymaker D; Kapp SK et al. (2019). The AASPIRE practice-based guidelines for the inclusion of autistic adults in research as co-researchers and study participants.. Autism : the international journal of research and practice · DOI
Methodological guidance is distinguished from empirical autism research. Links and relevant source content were checked on 2026-10-27. Citation is not endorsement or affiliation. Follow the source for its full scope, rights and limitations.