August 23, 1981

A major new study of homosexual men and women by the Kinsey Institute for Sex Research has found little or no support for most of the traditional theories about the origins of homosexuality. In particular, the study of nearly 1,500 people indicates that the parents' role in a child's sexual orientation has been ''grossly exaggerated,'' as have theories that homosexuality results from a lack of heterosexual opportunities or from traumatic heterosexual experiences. Rather, the researchers conclude that a homosexual orientation usually seems to emerge from a fundamental predisposition, possibly biological in origin, that first appears as a failure to conform to society's stereotype of what it means to be a boy or a girl. Research Method an Issue The report, to be published as a book, is likely to arouse controversy not only because of its findings, which the authors expect to anger both the psychoanalytic and the homosexual communities, but also because it relies on the memories of those interviewed and on a statistical technique called path analysis that is subject to misuse and can only explore existing notions, not create new ones.

Rick Reuschel, the portly starter who looked like one of the oldtimers in the New York clubhouse, and George Frazier, the gangly reliever who has not allowed a run since joining the Yankees, teamed up yesterday in a 5-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals. After three starts in which he was foiled by errors and misplays, Reuschel earned his first victory since the Yankees acquired him from the Chicago Cubs June 11, the day before the baseball strike began. The Yankees committed two errors after Reuschel left the game after six innings for Rudy May and Frazier, but they played flawlessly for the 32-year-old right-hander who gave up four hits and walked none. Reuschel's teammates also gave him unusual offensive support, getting 11 hits, including a two-run homer by Bucky Dent in the second inning, a single and double by Aurelio Rodriquez, and three hits by Jerry Mumphrey, one of which was a run-scoring triple in the seventh. On Friday night, when Larry Gura shut out the Yankees, they managed only four hits.

Reagan's Taxing Problem Unless President Reagan expects a significant easing in monetary policy, the $75 billion in additional cuts that the Administration contends will produce a balanced budget by 1984 may not be enough, some private economists say. Estimates of the deficit for the coming fiscal year run as much as $75 billion to $100 billion. Lawrence Chimerine, chief economist for Chase Econometrics, expects lackluster economic growth and high interest payments on existing debt to force the Administration to look for new sources of revenue within the next 12 months. It is at least conceivable that the Administration might be forced to take back some of the tax cuts it has just given out. But the political repercussions would be severe - so damaging that such a step is unlikely, Mr. Chimerine says. New sorts of taxation are another matter, however. A levy on fringe benefits, a tax on value added, and faster deregulation of natural gas prices, coupled with a windfall profits tax to recoup profits falling to energy companies, are all possibilities.

SOUTH ORANGE TWO months after being appointed president of Seton Hall University, Dr. Edward R. D'Alessio is busy planning ''an active involvement for every segment of this university - the eighth-largest Catholic university in the country - in the celebration of its 125th year, which begins in September.'' There is, however, more than just planning for a celebration going on at the 56-acre campus here. The university's Faculty Council has filed a complaint with the State Board of Mediation in Newark challenging the appointment of Dr. D'Alessio. ''It's a very small controversy,'' said Dr. D'Alessio, the 17th president of the university and the first Italian-American to hold the position. ''I went through the same selective process as everyone else, and I was appointed president because of my experience and reputation.''

AFTER the voters pick a Governor this year, they will be asked to elect a United States Senator and 14 members of Congress in 1982. Since there are now 15 members of the state's Congressional delegation, somebody has to go. The loss of a seat in Congress was dictated by the 1980 census, which recorded a slight rise in the state's population, but not enough to keep pace with the national growth. The Legislature or, more specifically, the Democrats in the State Assembly, led by Speaker Christopher J. Jackman of West New York, will have the most to say about the shape of the redistricting plan that will be adopted and - if history repeats itself - that will be challenged in court.