Sara I. McClelland, Ph.D.

I’m an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Women’s Studies and Psychology at the University of Michigan. My research focuses on the links between sexual health, psychological research methods, and issues of social justice. I teach courses with a focus on adolescent sexual development, public policy, and research design. I am especially interested in points of translation between audiences and stakeholders concerning issues related to sexuality, including: education, medicine, policy, and research.

My research often concerns feminist theory in applied research settings. In my work over the last few years, I’ve examined public policies concerning sex education in schools, reproductive rights for minors, as well as issues concerning the development of sexual identities, behaviors, expectations in young adults. These same questions are relevant across the life span, and with this in mind, I am currently examining the issues concerning the sexual health of women who have been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer – in particular, their expectations for physical and sexual well-being, as well as unmet information needs. The audience for my research often includes health psychologists, social and developmental psychologists, sex researchers, and medical professionals.

I use a variety of methods in my research, including interviews, surveys, focus groups, and Q methods. My work is also often focused on a meta-analysis of methods themselves: why do we choose one method of investigation over another and how do our methodological decisions limit or expand what we can learn about a phenomenon?

For More Information:

For more information, see my research lab's website: http://www.ProgressLab.info

For a more detailed description of my research interests, see Research and Publications. 

University of Michigan Departmental Affiliations:

• Women’s Studies
• (See this video for an introduction to the Women’s Studies Department at the University of Michigan.)
• Personality & Social Contexts Psychology
• Joint Ph.D. Program in Psychology & Women’s Studies