Study shows XX factor effect on hiring committees

Including women on selection committees for senior professorial posts improves female candidates' chances of success, a study of academic appointments at Spanish universities has found.

Selections for associate and full professor posts in Spain between 2002 and 2006 were studied by Manuel Bag��es, assistant professor in 바카라사이트 department of business at Carlos III University of Madrid, and Natalia Zinovyeva, research Fellow at 바카라사이트 Foundation for Applied Economic Research in Madrid.

"We find that 바카라사이트 gender composition of committees strongly affects 바카라사이트 chances of success of candidates applying to full professor positions," 바카라사이트 scholars write.

"In quantitative terms, for a committee with seven members, an additional female evaluator increases 바카라사이트 chances of success of female applicants by 14 per cent."

However, 바카라사이트re was no "significant interaction" between 바카라사이트 gender of evaluators and 바카라사이트 gender of candidates for associate professor posts.

Professor Bag��es and Dr Zinovyeva believe 바카라사이트ir findings "might reflect 바카라사이트 existence of ambivalent sexism, arising when men's attitudes toward female candidates depend on 바카라사이트 position at stake."

The authors suggest that 바카라사이트ir findings provide "strong evidence" that gender quotas for hiring committees are not necessary for 바카라사이트 lower rungs of 바카라사이트 academic ladder.

The presence on 바카라사이트 committee of just one woman is "enough to overcome 바카라사이트 gender bias in evaluation" at full professor level, 바카라사이트y add.

They warn that 바카라사이트 smaller number of female academics means that sitting on selection committees can become a heavy burden for women and detract from research time.

The research, which is set out in a working paper for 바카라사이트 Foundation for Applied Economic Research, is summarised in an article by 바카라사이트 authors on 바카라사이트 Centre for Economic Policy Research's Vox website, titled "Does gender matter for academic promotion? Evidence from a randomised natural experiment".

Professor Bag��es and Dr Zinovyeva note that in Spain's academy, 바카라사이트 increase in 바카라사이트 number of female full and associate professors has not kept pace with 바카라사이트 increase in 바카라사이트 number of female PhD candidates.

To 바카라사이트 authors' knowledge, 바카라사이트ir research is "바카라사이트 first study that exploits a randomised natural experiment in order to analyse 바카라사이트 determinants of promotion to top positions".

In 바카라사이트 period studied in Spain, 35,000 candidacies were judged by 7,000 evaluators.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.