Research Aids

This page is a collection of web sites, books, research resources and other electronic materials that can be useful for women's studies research. The list is updated regularly, so you are encouraged to offer suggestions.

General women's studies resources
Feminist and women's studies journals
Application procedures: Research involving human subjects

Course research guide (prepared by reference librarian Elizabeth Hutchins)

GENERAL WOMEN'S STUDIES RESOURCES

Gender Awareness Consortium: An umbrella organization that coordinates St. Olaf student groups pertaining to issues concerning gender and sexuality.

Women's Studies Online Resources: Access to a massive collection of women's studies and gender-related resources, including email listservs, women's studies programs and info on financial aid and internships

WMST-L File Collection: An archive of discussions, arranged by general topic, from the international women's studies listserv on teaching and research

Women's Studies Database: A wide range of web resources offered by the women's studies program at the University of Maryland.

Women and Politics Institute: Research, conferences and other information about women in Congress, offered by American University in Washington DC

WomenWatch: United Nations web site that addresses intergovernmental and treaty bodies dealing with the advancement and empowerment of women

Women's Human Rights Net: A collection of news, archives and forums on women's human-rights issues worldwide

Useful references on feminist theory available in Rolvaag Library:

Boles, Janet K., Diane Long Hoeveler, and Rebecca Bardwell. 1996. Historical dictionary of feminism. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press.

Code, Lorraine, ed. 2000. Encyclopedia of Feminist Theories. London: Routledge.

Gamble, Sarah, ed.. 2000. Routledge Critical Dictionary of Feminism and Postfeminism. New York: Routledge.

Humm, Maggie. 1995. The Dictionary of Feminist Theory. 2nd ed. Columbus: Ohio State University.

Kramarae, Cheris, and Paula A. Treichler. 1985. A feminist dictionary. Boston: Pandora Press.

Tuttle, Lisa. 1986. Encyclopedia of Feminism. New York: Facts on File.

Organizations focused on women's issues

• National Organization for Women
• American Association of University Women
• Feminist Majority Foundation
• Feminist Women's Health Center
• National Women's Political Caucus
• Feminists for Life of America
• National Council of Women's Organizations

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FEMINIST AND WOMEN'S STUDIES JOURNALS

Be sure to check the St. Olaf Library's listing of Indexes: Articles and More: Women, Family and Gender.

Reference librarian Elizabeth Hutchins has provided the following list of feminist journals available through the St. Olaf library, either online or in print form. See the "Periodicals Title List" to determine the options for access.

Farzaneh: Journal of women's studies and research that focuses on Iran and other Islamic nations

Sexing the Political: An online "journal of third-wave feminists on sexuality"

thirdspace: An online journal "for emerging feminist scholars"

Other journals that may be useful in women's studies research:

Australian Feminist Studies (indexed in Sociological Abstracts)
Culture, Health and Sexuality (indexed in Sociological Abstracts)
Feminist Economics (indexed in Sociological Abstracts and CSA/Econlit)
Feminist Media Studies (indexed in Sociological Abstracts)
Gender and Development (published by Oxfam in Great Britain)
Gender and Education (indexed in Sociological Abstracts and Social      Science Citation Index)
Gender, Place and Culture (indexed in Sociological Abstracts)
International Feminist Journal of Politics (table of contents available      online, articles available through interlibrary loan)
Journal of Gender Studies (indexed in Sociological Abstracts)
Nora: Nordic Journal of Women's Studies (table of contents available      online, articles available through interlibrary loan)
Sexualities, Evolution and Gender (indexed in Sociological Abstracts)
Women: A Cultural Review (table of contents available online, articles      available through interlibrary loan)

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APPLICATION PROCEDURES: RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS

The Institutional Review Board of St. Olaf College must approve original research that involves human participants. To gain approval, follow these steps:

• Complete the St. Olaf College Application to Conduct Research with Human Subjects form.

• Read Guidelines for Review of Human Subjects Research Ethics Disclosures and complete the St. Olaf College Human Subjects Research Ethics Disclosure form.

• Complete the St. Olaf College Human Subjects Research Approval Form. Your project will fall into the category of "instructional surveys." Submit all three forms to Prof. Breen for her signature.

• Submit the same set of three forms to Prof. Dolores Peters, Women's Studies Program director, for her signature.

• Submit the same set of three forms to Prof. Jo Beld, chair of the IRB.

• Once IRB approval is obtained, you are free to proceed with your original research.

Thanks to the generosity of St. Olaf senior Megan Gregory, our class has access to a model of a successful IRB application for her project in the Environmental Studies senior capstone seminar this semester. Megan's thorough set of application materials can provide a template for adaptation to your own project's needs and design.

For help in designing a survey or questionnaire, check out the following:

• Use the subject heading Social sciences -- Research in Sage to find a broad collection of books on social science methods. Many include sections on survey and questionnaire design.

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