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ERIC Number: ED413907
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1997-Aug
Pages: 35
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Enhancing Information Access through Expanding Use of Women's Studies Materials.
Wagner, Joyce A.
Five quarterly issues of the publication, "Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society" were examined in a citation analysis format to determine trends in Women's Studies scholarship. A total of 1,927 citations were reviewed to ascertain: the nature of the sources cited; the author's alternate field of interest in addition to Women's Studies; the current topics being covered; the most cited journals; and the currency of the materials cited. The study revealed a great deal of diversity in current Women's Studies issues and in the cross disciplines of the article authors. Authors with cross disciplines in literature were represented most often with approximately 22% of the articles being from literary scholars. Sociology with 19% and history with 10% were the second and third most published scholars. While many diverse topics were covered, issues in literature, history, and sociology were the most often published which parallels the authors' fields of additional interests. Newly published materials received the greatest percentage of references. Approximately 37% of the citations were from the most recent five year period. Almost 12% of the references were from 1970 and earlier which was unexpected in a relatively young discipline. "Signs" was the most often cited journal, a fact that remained consistent with earlier studies. Books were the most frequently cited materials, used 44% of the time, with journals and university presses being the next most used materials with approximately 22% of the citations each. Women's Studies scholars require a great deal of different type of materials for their studies and write on topics of general interest to other scholars. A core collection of Women's Studies materials, therefore, appears to be beneficial to all types of libraries. (Contains 16 references.) (Author)
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Note: Master's Research Paper, Kent State University.