Nonsexist Research Methods

by Margrit Eichler

In accessible and jargon-free language, Margrit Eichler provides a systematic approach to identifying, eliminating, and preventing sexist bias in social science research. She begins with a general discussion of the problems and implications of sexism in research, and then identifies four primary sources of androcentricity, overgeneralization, gender insensitivity, and double standards. Three derivative sources of bias -- sex appropriateness, familism, and sexual dichotism -- are also discussed. Each chapter defines a problem and provides illustrative examples drawn from recently published work. In the concluding chapter, Eichler outlines a step-by-step approach to avoiding the intrduction of sexist bias at each phase of the research process. She also provides concrete suggestions for eliminating bias in titles, language, research design, concepts, research methods, data interpretation, and policy evaluations and recommendations. The book includes a Nonsexist Research Checklist that is designed as a handy reference to be used during the research process. Nonsexist Research Methods is appropriate to both quantitative and qualitative analysis. Written specially with students in mind, this book will prove invaluable to researchers and research methods courses in sociology, political science, economics, pyschology, anthropology, and women's studies.

192 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 1987

Reviews

[Ietrio]

Very pertinent observations lead to a crap book. Dated too, as there can only be men and women or so it seems.

[criavolver]

At one point the author couldn’t fathom how racial issues superseded sexist issues, as if they aren’t entwined with each other under the umbrella of the toxicity of White Supremacy.

[Dino Wong]

Short and neat. Clearly illustrated how sexist ideas distorted the conceptualization of sexuality, methodology and interpretation of scientific research. Eichler stated there were at least six different problems undermining the validity of scientific research. Each problem was illustrated with a number of examples. A very practical and useful booklet.

[Tiffany]

I feel like most women have had this reading experience at some point:

"Androcentricity ... manifests itself when ego is constructed as male rather than female, such as when 'intergroup warfare' is defined as a 'means of gaining women and slaves.' In this case, the 'group' is defined as consisting only of males, since the women are what is 'gained.'"

The disorienting discovery that for the purposes of this text, you (the incidentally female reader) are not on Team Thinks and Acts, but Team Objects. For Eichler, this is the tip of the iceberg, as she provides a systematic guide to identifying four broad categories of sexism in research: androcentrism, overgeneralization, gender insensitivity, and double standards. I consider myself pretty sensitive to these issues already, but Eichler's incisive analysis of seemingly unproblematic studies was eye-opening, and I think still relevant despite being published in 1988.