This review of literature on sex trafficking reveals that few published articles are based upon primary data collection, and posits that much of the current discourse on human trafficking is driven by speculation rather than empirical research. The author raises specific research questions and explores field strategies that could advance knowledge on the subject based upon a solid empirical foundation. The extent of forced labor and sexual exploitation of women and children is largely guesswork; little empirical evidence exists to support the claimed scale of the problem. Researchers must explore specific areas to gain factual data on the problem of human and sex trafficking. These include study of the recruitment process, method of transportation, financial aspects, migration patterns, the organizational attributes of trafficking organizations, the connection between sex trafficking and other criminal activities, the victimization patterns of trafficking victims, and the role of corruption in sex trafficking, This primary data should come from in-depth field work. 1 table