REINVENTING ANALOGUE METHODS FOR RESEARCH WITH WOMEN

This article was prompted by the current popularity and acceptance of analogue methods in gender-related research. The use of analogues in research with women is examined here for both its strengths and limita-tions. We acknowledge the distinctive advantages of analogue methods in revealing the nature, extent, and potential outcomes of gender bias and stereotyping of all minority status groups. While recognizing that any method can be feminist, we address four major concerns with cur-rent applications of analogue research to questions about women and gender. These concerns cover: (a) relevance to the questions asked, (b) attention to the context of women’s lives, (c) significance for situational behavior, and (d) applicability to social change. We propose a set of transformations that applies feminist scholarship to reconceptualizing analogues in research related to women and gender. The documentation and exploration of stereotyping and response bias based on gender, ethnicity, and other group status variables represent important advances in research with women. Because participants in a research study may be unaware or reluctant to reveal biased attitudes and beliefs, researchers have frequently resorted to indirect methods to un-cover personally held stereotypes. The written analogue, or vignette, has provided a major vehicle for the indirect measure of gender bias. A re-search vignette presents a brief description of individuals or situations to which the respondent is asked to assign evaluative ratings, provide causal An earlier version of this article was presented at the annual convention of the America