INSIGHTS FROM VIGNETTES: AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN'S PERCEPTIONS OF DISCRIMINATION IN THE SCIENCE CLASSROOM

摘要

Results from a recent web survey that uses the vignette methodology to examine young women's perceptions of discrimination in the science classroom are presented. The vignette findings suggest that a majority of young African American women see race and gender barriers in the science classroom. Although African American women see race as a more formidable barrier than gender, they are more likely than White women to see gender barriers as well. Results reveal advantages of the vignette method for gaining detail and control in the context of the social survey. It is argued that the combination of web survey technology and vignette methodology has considerable potential for providing substantive insights in social science research in general and science education research in particular.