Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 8, 1992 TAG: 9201080066
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-12 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By BECKY HEPLER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Long
RU GENDER-STUDY STUDENTS GO STRAIGHT TO ARTISAN SOURCE
Research can mean hours in a library, poring over books and wading through the card catalog or tackling the computer system.But for the Radford University psychology students working in the Center for Gender Studies, one research project this year had them touring craft shows and interviewing artisans.
It's a tough life, academia.
Established two years ago in the psychology department, the center is devoted to studying the effects of gender on behavior. The center also conducts seminars and informal talks, sponsors lecturers, and this year invited a Fulbright scholar to the school.
But its most important function is coordinating research efforts of faculty and students in the effects of gender in the work place, the family and the social structure.
Department Chairman Alastair Harris, talking about the importance of the center, said: "There are so many gender-related issues that have been overlooked in the study of behavior. We see the center as a way to correct that as well as a way to dispel stereotypes."
This kind of behavioral research usually involves surveys of large numbers of subjects and statistical manipulations of the information, sometimes call quantitative research. But researchers also do qualitative research, which uses fewer subjects with more in-depth interviews for other kinds of information.
An example is interviewing craft-show artisans.
Jerri Frantzve, associate professor in the psychology department and overseer of the center's research projects, led a group of students with the question, "What is the impact of money on the hierarchy of a traditional tribe or clan?"
The group wanted to compare what happens in two traditional cultures, Appalachian Mountain people and Pueblo Indians, when artisans, usually women, bring in large amounts of money with their work.
"We wanted to know what happens to their position, their power within the tribe or family," said Frantzve. "We were also interested in the source of their inspiration. Was it to make more money or to reflect their traditions or just to express their creativity?"
The group is interviewing about 20 Indians and 10 Appalachian artists. Radford University Foundation supported the effort with a travel grant to New Mexico in the summer. This summer will find the group in Appalachia.
One of the center's largest research projects in an ongoing study of executive women, done in conjunction with the business school's management department. Women in management positions, vice president or higher, are being surveyed with questionnaires and in-depth interviews on their attitudes and influences, their leadership skills and the role of mentors in their success.
Another project looks at how people respond to computers in the work place and what effect that has on the power structure. One question asked is whether there is a gender difference in the ways computers are used.
An important component in all of these research projects is that students are involved in them.
"The center gives students the opportunity to gain actual hands-on experience in research," said Dr. Jeri Carter, an assistant professor who directs the center's applied programs. In fact, several of the projects were designed and implemented entirely by the students.
The students' work is not limited to collecting or collating data. They are encouraged to participate throughout the entire research process, including preparing presentations for conferences and contributing to the writing of articles, for which they get credit.
"We feel very strongly that our students who work with us should get formal credit for the work they do," said Carter. "When we write articles, when we do conference presentations, their names appear. They don't get a little footnote; they're listed as co-authors."
The center has 15 to 20 students working this year, mostly graduate students.
The center also offers leadership seminars to local businesses. Hercules Inc. supervisory personnel at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant are receiving the skill-building sessions. Susan Dean, head of the plant's Equal Employment Opportunity office, said, "We received lots of positive response to the workshops. The women enjoyed being able to open up and discuss the issues."
Cindy Mikoychik of the propellent division said, "I used to think there was only one style of leadership, but the seminar pointed out several different ways to achieve your goals."
Because of the university's commitment to an international perspective, the center decided to apply for a Fulbright scholar. Carmen Varela of Madrid, Spain, will be on campus in spring, teaching a course on gender and stress and leading some seminars.
"Part of what happens when you have have a Fulbright is, they're here to learn from us as much as we learn from them, so we're hoping we'll end up with a better perspective in the study of gender differences and of international issues," Frantzve said.
Many of the research projects feature women's issues and responses. One reason for this is because so much of the past research has ignored these issues and responses, especially in organizational and industrial psychology.
One project is looking at co-dependency in males. Another will gear up next year to investigate eating disorders in males. The computer project is looking at both male and female reaction to computers in the work place.
"Both women and men are affected by gender expectations, so it's hard to study one without the other," said center Director Hillary Lips.