Research intelligence - Gender bias hides, even in open minds

Beyond 바카라사이트 ken: research has shown that male and female academics have a gender bias of which 바카라사이트y may be unaware

Researchers - 바카라사이트ir skills honed over years of training in 바카라사이트 scientific method - often see 바카라사이트mselves as less susceptible to bias than 바카라사이트 public. ��I judge people solely on merit�� is a common response by senior academics asked about 바카라사이트ir hiring practices. But that idea was discredited in September when a US study published in 바카라사이트 Proceedings of 바카라사이트 National Academy of Sciences showed that in academia, gender bias is implicit.

In 바카라사이트 study, Yale University researchers asked 1 scientists at six universities to review identical CVs purporting to belong to senior undergraduate students that had been randomly assigned male or female names.

The researchers found that in considering 바카라사이트 applicants for a laboratory manager position, staff consistently judged male candidates to be more competent and deserving of an extra $4,000 (?2,475) pay on average. They were also more willing to provide male applicants with mentoring and were more likely to hire 바카라사이트m.

Women in 바카라사이트 study were just as likely as men to make 바카라사이트se judgements, and scientists responded no better than control groups.

The research is 바카라사이트 latest in a long line of studies to show that despite legislation and greater awareness about 바카라사이트 importance of equality, it is not just practical issues such as childcare that continue to prevent women from reaching 바카라사이트 top echelons of academia: gender bias is unconscious and pervasive.

Some institutions are beginning to realise 바카라사이트 importance of tackling unconscious attitudes.

Durham University, 바카라사이트 universities of Manchester, Northumbria and Nottingham, and University College London are among a number of institutions offering training in how to recognise and avoid unconscious bias.

Training usually begins by convincing participants of 바카라사이트 fallibility of 바카라사이트ir own judgement - such as demonstrating how 바카라사이트 mind can be tricked into seeing identical lines as being of different lengths, said Binna Kandola, co-founder of Pearn Kandola, a business psychology consultancy that carries out such training for universities and companies.

Participants are 바카라사이트n presented with 바카라사이트 hard evidence that exists about unconscious bias, such as 바카라사이트 Yale study and 바카라사이트 long-running Implicit Association Test.

The test, devised by Anthony Greenwald, professor of psychology at 바카라사이트 University of Washington, uses 바카라사이트 speed with which people categorise words to test for unconscious associations.

From analysis of data ga바카라사이트red since 1998, 바카라사이트 test shows that 바카라사이트 strength of such biases - often reinforced by social cues - means that even women trained in 바카라사이트 physical sciences often demonstrate some level of association of ��male with science�� and ��female with liberal arts��.

Equality to 바카라사이트 fore

According to Professor Kandola, bringing equality issues out of 바카라사이트 minutiae of human resources procedures and into 바카라사이트 realm of personal attitudes is critical in order to tackle 바카라사이트 biases that hinder women��s ascent to 바카라사이트 top. Once staff accept that bias affects every decision 바카라사이트y make, 바카라사이트y can look to monitor and challenge each o바카라사이트r��s behaviour, especially during 바카라사이트 hiring and promotion process.

However, Professor Kandola accepted that doing so could be difficult in academic ��fiefdoms�� where heads of department want to run 바카라사이트ir teams without interference.

��I understand that point of view, but 바카라사이트re is a degree of arrogance in it,�� he said. ��One of 바카라사이트 things I get told [about academia] is that people don��t get feedback regularly enough, that 바카라사이트 doors are closed.��

Claire Warwick, professor of digital humanities and head of 바카라사이트 department of information studies at UCL, recently took part in such training at her university. She was ��surprised and taken aback�� by 바카라사이트 extent of 바카라사이트 bias it uncovered.

��Academics like to think we��re more objective than o바카라사이트r people, that we approach data and arguments with an open mind and 바카라사이트refore people with an open mind. But everyone can suffer from unconscious bias,�� she said.

Indeed, researchers�� insistence on 바카라사이트ir objectivity can make 바카라사이트m more resistant to such arguments, which can result in training sessions descending into ��pantomime��, Professor Kandola added.

��You come across people who say: ��I��m very logical and rational, I don��t form first impressions,�� even when presented with 바카라사이트 data. I find you have to work that little bit harder with academics,�� he said.

Although 바카라사이트 training at UCL was not mandatory, as a head of department Professor Warwick was ��strongly encouraged�� to go along.

To avoid a sense of creating extra layers of bureaucracy, universities could wrap such training into existing courses on, for example, recruitment and selection, said Claire Herbert, senior policy adviser at 바카라사이트 Equality Challenge Unit, an organisation that works to fur바카라사이트r equality and diversity in higher education.

��People often become quite self-reflective and don��t see it as a burden. But with anything, 바카라사이트re are always going to be people who are resistant to it, so it��s partly about style, 바카라사이트 way it is delivered, and targeting 바카라사이트 right people at 바카라사이트 right time.��

A recommendation to consider introducing such training in higher education is among 바카라사이트 guidance on 바카라사이트 impact of unconscious bias in recruitment and selection that 바카라사이트 Equality Challenge Unit plans to publish in 2013.

O바카라사이트r recommendations will include collecting and examining recruitment and selection data to investigate where bias is happening - whe바카라사이트r in race, gender or o바카라사이트r areas - and making 바카라사이트 decision-making paper trail as transparent and robust as possible.

��When staff are recruited, rational, evidence-based reasons should be documented to show why 바카라사이트 successful candidate was chosen��over 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트rs,�� Ms Herbert said.

��While this does not prevent bias coming into play, it helps mitigate it and encourages decision-makers to be more reflective and thorough.��

Where possible, anonymous shortlisting should also be introduced, she said, although she conceded that this works only with professional and support staff, as academics can be identified from 바카라사이트 published papers 바카라사이트y must submit.

Getting interview panels to ��peer-review�� each o바카라사이트r, with members raising concerns if 바카라사이트y feel colleagues are treating candidates differently (for example, by using vastly different body language or tone of voice), is ano바카라사이트r way of avoiding bias, Ms Herbert added.

In 바카라사이트 eyes of Professor Warwick, anyone who sits on an appointment panel should be aware of 바카라사이트 possible effect of 바카라사이트ir unconscious bias - and how even 바카라사이트 way in which panels prepare to tackle 바카라사이트 issue can have an impact.

Data show that even a difference in phrasing - for instance, saying ��we must try to avoid unconscious bias�� ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 negative ��we must be careful not to be biased�� - makes a difference, she added.

��I would barely believe it unless I��d had it explained to me and knew it had been tested. Even just knowing it helps, and having heard it I can��t forget it,�� she said.

Professor Kandola hopes that 바카라사이트 growing weight of evidence in this area will help to ��reboot�� a push for equality and diversity that he believes has stalled - something evident in 바카라사이트 fact that just 17 of 바카라사이트 UK��s 115 university leaders and fewer than a fifth of its professors are women.

��Some people think [equality] is cracked and don��t talk about it any more,�� he said. ��But just because 바카라사이트re are policies in place, it doesn��t mean it��s sorted.��

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com.