Course Description

Exploration of the assumptions and procedures of interdisciplinary research in the humanities and social sciences with specific attention to the purposes and processes of generating knowledge about women, gender, and feminism. Investigation and comparison of various qualitative and quantitative approaches, including narratives, ethnographies, and surveys.

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Athena Title

Understanding Research in WGST

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Equivalent Courses

Not open to students with credit in WMST 4011W

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Prerequisite

WMST 1110 or WMST 1110E or WMST 1110H or WMST 2010 or WMST 2010H or permission of department

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Semester Course Offered

Offered fall

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Grading System

A - F (Traditional)

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Student learning Outcomes

• Students will learn the philosophical bases for the generation of knowledge about women, gender, and feminism.
• Students will understand the assumptions and procedures of humanistic and social scientific research in Women's Studies.
• Students will learn to compare methodological approaches and their utility in different research situations.

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Topical Outline

• Assumptions of Feminist Scholarship
• The "Problem" of Gender in Research
• Women's Standpoints and Feminist Standpoints
• Research Politics and Identity: Race
• Research Politics and Identity: Class
• Research Politics and Identity: Sexuality
• Feminism and Method: Empirical Social Science
• Feminism and Method: Ethnography and Interpretive Social Science
• Feminism and Method: History
• Feminism and Method: Philosophy
• Feminism and Method: Criticism
• Conclusions and Comparisons

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Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes

Analytical Thinking

The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.

Critical Thinking

The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.

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