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The Use of Vignettes in Social Science Research: A Web Survey Application Focusing on African American Women's Perceptions of Race and Gender Discrimination in Science
Unformatted Document Text:  1 The Use of Vignettes in Social Science Research: A Web Survey Application Focusing on African American Women’s Perceptions of Discrimination in Science 1 Sandra L. Hanson Catholic University Abstract Results from a recent web survey of young women that examines perceptions of discrimination in science classrooms are used to show the value of the vignette method for researchers using new technologies. 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. INTRODUCTION The web survey utilizes a new technology that combines probability sampling with the reach and capabilities of the Internet. It is just now being discovered as a valuable tool for social scientists. The vignette technique can be used in a unique way in the context of this new technology to gain valuable insights into social processes. Research using vignettes has shed light on a number of social processes including race attitudes and judgements about discrimination and affirmative action (Rossi, 1974, Sniderman and Grob, 1996, Sprecher, 1992, Warr, 1990). Some have suggested that the vignette solves problems often associated with standardized surveys by providing a concrete, detailed stimulus and greater control over the survey design (increased internal validity) (Alexander and Becker, 1978). In this paper, results from a series of vignettes in a web survey of young African American (and white) women=s perceptions of discrimination in the science classroom are utilized in an effort to show the advantages of the vignette technique, especially in the web survey context. The goal of this article is to

Authors: Hanson, Sandra.
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1
The Use of Vignettes in Social Science Research:
A Web Survey Application Focusing on African American Women’s
Perceptions of Discrimination in Science
1
Sandra L. Hanson
Catholic
University
Abstract
Results from a recent web survey of young women that examines perceptions of discrimination in science
classrooms are used to show the value of the vignette method for researchers using new technologies. 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.
INTRODUCTION
The web survey utilizes a new technology that combines probability sampling with the reach and
capabilities of the Internet. It is just now being discovered as a valuable tool for social scientists. The vignette
technique can be used in a unique way in the context of this new technology to gain valuable insights into social
processes. Research using vignettes has shed light on a number of social processes including race attitudes and
judgements about discrimination and affirmative action (Rossi, 1974, Sniderman and Grob, 1996, Sprecher, 1992,
Warr, 1990). Some have suggested that the vignette solves problems often associated with standardized surveys by
providing a concrete, detailed stimulus and greater control over the survey design
(increased internal validity)
(Alexander and Becker, 1978). In this paper, results from a series of vignettes in a web survey of young African
American (and white) women=s perceptions of discrimination in the science
classroom are utilized in an
effort
to show the advantages of the vignette technique, especially in the web survey context. The goal of this article is to


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