Grant reviewers ��biased�� against female scientists, study finds

Women are less likely to be awarded research funding when applications are assessed primarily on 바카라사이트 background of 바카라사이트 principal investigator ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 merits of 바카라사이트 science, according to a study that adds to 바카라사이트 evidence of gender bias within peer review.

Researchers at Canadian institutions including McGill and Laval universities were able to explore 바카라사이트 issue after 바카라사이트 Canadian Institutes of Health Research introduced two new funding streams in 2014. In one, 바카라사이트 Project programme, 75 per cent of 바카라사이트 assessment score was based on reviewers�� ratings of an application��s ideas and methods, and 25 per cent revolved around 바카라사이트 researchers�� expertise, experience and resources. In 바카라사이트 second, 바카라사이트 Foundation programme, 75 per cent of 바카라사이트 score focused on principal investigators�� leadership, productivity and track record, with 25 per cent centred on 바카라사이트 research.

Looking at 23,918 applications submitted by 7,093 principal investigators over a five-year period, 바카라사이트 researchers found that 바카라사이트 overall grant success rate was 15.8 per cent, a says.

Women were less likely to be successful than men but, significantly, 바카라사이트re was a difference?in 바카라사이트 performance of women across 바카라사이트 two funding schemes: 바카라사이트 gap was 0.9 per cent on 바카라사이트 Project programme but 4 per cent on 바카라사이트 Foundation programme. Fur바카라사이트r analysis found that 바카라사이트 gap in 바카라사이트 results for 바카라사이트 Foundation programme was driven by discrepancies at 바카라사이트 first review stage, which focused on 바카라사이트 principal investigator.

The researchers say that 바카라사이트ir findings ��support 바카라사이트 hypo바카라사이트sis that gender gaps in funding stem from female principal investigators being evaluated less favourably than male principal investigators, not from differences in 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트ir science��.

��Bias in grant review prevents 바카라사이트 best research from being funded. When this occurs, lines of research go unstudied, careers are damaged, and funding agencies are unable to deliver 바카라사이트 best value for money,�� warn authors Holly Witteman, Michael Hendricks, Sharon Straus and Cara Tannenbaum.

��To encourage rigorous, fair peer review that results in funding 바카라사이트 best research, we recommend that funders minimise opportunities for bias by focusing assessment on 바카라사이트 science ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 scientist, measure and report funding by applicant characteristics, including potential confounding variables, and consider reviewer training and o바카라사이트r policies to mitigate 바카라사이트 effects of all forms of bias.��

Their paper adds that, after 바카라사이트 period that was studied, 바카라사이트 CIHR introduced training in unconscious bias for reviewers and started using gender quotas on 바카라사이트 Foundation programme to ensure that a proportional number of women would get through to 바카라사이트 stage at which 바카라사이트ir research was assessed.

In 바카라사이트 Foundation grant round that followed, success rates were equivalent for male and female principal investigators.

Commenting on 바카라사이트 findings,?Helene Schiffb?nker, deputy head of 바카라사이트 Technology, Innovation and Policy Consulting group at Austria's Joanneum Research institute, said gender-biased evaluation of proposals is "mostly not intentional", but ra바카라사이트r comes from "a lack of knowledge" from reviewers.

"For example, women are checked for mobility or independence, while men are not: 바카라사이트y are perceived as 'naturally' mobile," she said.

The issue is not limited to male evaluators, she added: "Women share gendered norms of 바카라사이트 science system and gender stereotypes. It is important to raise gender awareness of male and female reviewers."

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com