Award Date

1-1-1993

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Sociology

First Committee Member

Barbara G. Brents

Number of Pages

124

Abstract

Content analysis of 803 sexuality research abstracts selected from Sociological Abstracts published from January 1974 to August 1992 answers three questions: (1) Are there trends in sexuality research? (2) Is there a paradigm shift? and (3) Is gender differentiation present? Research between 1973 and 1991 displayed a consistent division between the positivist "nature" paradigm and the interactionist "nurture" paradigm. The proportion of studies which attempt to be non-gender specific has declined annually while researchers have consistently neglected to study male sexuality. Although there has been little change in basic principles, there have been trends in interpretations of research data. Conclusions display significant gender differences in both gender interests and author style. The author gender differentiation and the concurrent decrease in non-specific gender studies complicate formulation of a causal distinction. Sexuality research may be broadening due to the increased involvement of female researchers or the interpretations may be influenced by a widening range of issues introduced by both interactionist and postmodern paradigms.

Keywords

Amid; Assumptions; Gender; Paradigm; Research; Sexuality; Shifts; Untested

Controlled Subject

Social sciences--Research

File Format

pdf

File Size

4177.92 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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