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BOOK REVIEWS 

Feminist Research Methods: Exemplary 
Readings in the Social Sciences. Ed. by 
Joyce McCarl Nielsen. Boulder, San 
Francisco, and London: Westview 
Press, 1990. 262p. $39.95 he, $16.95 pc 
(ISBN 0-8133-0604-3; ISBN 0-8133-0577­
2 (pbk.). LC 89-29019. 
Editors of anthologies, by definition, 

bring together select writings that merit 
emphasis for one or more reasons. But this 
anthology is much more than a book of 
fine readings. It offers a quick overview of 
feminist and social scientific research for 
the nonexpert, and it appeals to the re­
search professional because of its clearly 
articulated theoretical discussions and 
theses. As if it were an example of Niel­
sen's theory of the holistic qualities of 
feminist research, the book becomes 
whole in and of itself. The work in its en­
tirety posits viable evidence of the new sci­
entific revolution resulting from the para­
digm of feminist research. 

Based on the paradigm theory of 
Thomas Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific 
Revolutions (1962), the paradigm of femi­
nist research is affecting all scientific and 
social scientific research, according to the 
well-documented and developed intro­
duction by Joyce McCarl Nielsen. Nielsen 
examines numerous research methodolo­
gies and their theoretical underpinnings, 
even offering a brief history of scientific in­
quiry. She adeptly builds on issues in phi­
losophy and history of science and as­
sumptions in epistemology to illustrate 
her contention that feminist inquiry not 
only broadens the entire picture but is also 

revolutionizing the way research is carried 
out in virtually all disciplines. ' 

Two of several basic assumptions that 
Nielsen effectively overturns are the '' ob­
jectivity" theory, i.e., the social world is 
objectively knowable, and the subject/ob­
ject separation theory, which assumes 
that the social world can be known objec­
tively by observers who are a part of it but 
can remain subjectively separated from it. 
Her introductory discussion on these and 
other assumptions as well as her fine ex­
planation of the new feminist research 
paradigm are substantiated by the well­
chosen readings. 

These readings fall into two categories. 
The first group comprises four selections, 
each discussing different research metho­
dologies: subjective-objective basis of sci­
entific thinking, the dialectical nature of 
knowledge, epistemology and methodol­
ogy in feminist sociological research, and 
appropriate applications of oral history. 

The lead article, "Gender and Science" · 
by Evelyn Fox Keller, points out the mas­
culine characteristics of science and scien­
tific inquiry. Keller bases her treatment on 
the subjective-objective distinction that 
underlies science and demonstrates that 
the ability to conduct modern-day scien­
tific inquiry is developed along with an in­
dividual's emotional and sexual identity. 

Part two includes several articles sub­
stantiating Keller's theme. ''Women and 
Suicide in Historical Perspective'' by Ho­
ward I. Kushner, "How Large Are Cogni­
tive Gender Differences? A Meta-analysis 
Using w2 and d" by Janet Shibley Hyde, 

491 



492 College & Research Libraries September 1990 

Published: 

Catalogue 32: 

Philosophy 

Old, Rare & Out of Print Books, 
Journals and Pamphlets. 

Catalogue 33: 

Economics & Economical His­
tory. 
Parts 1-2. 

1. Finance- Banking- Stockmarket 
Taxes 
2. Agriculture - Rural Economy 

Catalogue 34: 

Law & The History of Law - Inter­
national Law. 

Free on request. 

A. GERITS & SONS 
Modem and Antiquarian Booksellers 

Library Agents 

Prinsengracht 445, P.O. Box 664 
1000 AR Amsterdam, The Netherlands 

Teleph. 31-20-27 22 85 ·Fax 31-20-25 89 70 

• 
Out of Print & Antiquarian Catalogues 

and 
Flyers of New and Forthcoming 

European Publications 
Free on request 

European (West & East) Out of Print 
Searching Service 

"Interaction: The Work Women Do" by 
Pamela M. Fishman, and "A New Ap­
proach to Understanding the Impact of 
Gender on the Legislative Process" by 
Lyn Kathlene are not only relevant to the 
topic but particularly well selected. 

Nielsen believes that theoretical discus­
sions are most meaningful when offered 
in conjunction with specific examples of 
their applications. Her presentation in this 
volume is structured accordingly, with the 
second group of readings, offering exam­
ples of theory applied to specific areas of 
inquiry. 

In part two, the article that illustrates the 
utilization of feminist literary criticism and 
anthropological fieldwork is a noteworthy 
example of the integration of empirical cri­
teria and the hermeneutic and emancipa­
tory themes of feminist research. AnnaL. 
Tsing in her ''The Vision of a Woman Sha­
man'' gives an account of how Induan Hil­
ing, a Meratus woman, becomes . recog­
nized in her own society for her 

. shamanistic powers, powers usually at­
tributed to men. Evolving with this recog­
nition is the gradual transformation of the 
society itself as Induan Hiling creates new 
forms of rituals, songs, and expressions. 
Tsing is able to draw from her participant/ 
observer fieldwork, her interpretive anal­
ysis of events and traditions, and the ex­
pansive attributes of feminist research. 
The reader understands clearly the 
sources of information and the contribu­
tions of various techniques. 

Other authors selected for inclusion are: 
Marcia Westkott, Judith A. Cook, Mary 
Margaret Fonow, Kathryn Anderson, Su­
san Armitage, Dana Jane, Judith Wittner, 
Sherna Berger Gluck, and Myra Marx Fer­
ree. The editor has coupled her excellent 
essay on the strengths of feminist research 
with an outstanding group of articles, 
thereby creating a valuable contribution to 
the literature of research methodology.­
Patricia A. Wand, The American University, 
Washington, D.C. 

Magrill, Rose Mary and John Corbin. Ac­
quisitions Management and Collection De­
velopment in Libraries. 2d ed. Chicago: