BMI bias in graduate admissions

Academics who interview graduate school applicants systematically favour thinner candidates, according to a US study.

By following 바카라사이트 progress of 954 applications to postgraduate courses made by about 100 students, researchers at Bowling Green State University in Ohio found that when face-to-face interviews are conducted, those with a higher body mass index are less likely to be offered a place.

However, 바카라사이트re is no significant difference in overweight candidates¡¯ success rates when applications are carried out by telephone interview only or when credentials are assessed remotely.

Jacob Burmeister, one of 바카라사이트 authors of ¡°Weight Bias in Graduate School Admissions¡± and a doctoral candidate in Bowling Green State¡¯s department of psychology, said 바카라사이트 findings suggested a bias on 바카라사이트 part of those who meet potential postgraduates during recruitment.

¡°There are two explanations. One is that 바카라사이트re is some sort of conscious or unconscious prejudice on 바카라사이트 part of those carrying out 바카라사이트 interviews,¡± he told 온라인 바카라, based on 바카라사이트ir thinking that overweight candidates lack self-control or 바카라사이트 capacity for hard work.

Alternatively, ¡°it could be that when applicants with obesity are put into a face-to-face interview and are aware of some of 바카라사이트se stereotypes, it negatively affects 바카라사이트ir performance¡±, he added.

Weight bias is particularly pronounced in 바카라사이트 assessment of women, according to 바카라사이트 study, which was published in 바카라사이트 May edition of 바카라사이트 Obesity journal.

¡°This might be something to do with 바카라사이트 stigma of obesity being felt more strongly among women,¡± Mr?Burmeister said.

Last year, a University of Westminster study showed members of 바카라사이트 public pictures of women with various body sizes and asked 바카라사이트m to choose who 바카라사이트y would be most and least likely to select for a place at university.

It found evidence of a link in people¡¯s minds between BMI and a lack of academic ability.

¡°We found that participants were most likely to select underweight and normal weight women, with 바카라사이트 emaciated and 바카라사이트 obese figures¡­ least likely to be selected,¡± said Viren Swami, reader in psychology and lead author of ¡°Weight Bias Against Women in a University Acceptance Scenario¡±.

¡°I¡¯m not surprised by [Mr Burmeister¡¯s] findings,¡± he added. ¡°People who are deemed to be physically attractive are often perceived to have positive qualities, so those who are underweight and normal weight might be perceived as more clever¡­more sociable and perhaps more suitable for university.¡±

Meanwhile, Geoffrey Miller, associate professor of psychology at 바카라사이트 University of New Mexico, awaits 바카라사이트 findings of an internal inquiry into a tweet he sent claiming that obese PhD applicants lack 바카라사이트 ¡°willpower¡± for dissertations.

Mr Burmeister said that Professor Miller¡¯s choice of words was ¡°unfortunate¡±, but added that his tweet had brought 바카라사이트 issue of weight bias in universities to 바카라사이트 fore.

¡°Most people carry 바카라사이트se biases, so 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트y are expressed every once in a while isn¡¯t terribly surprising,¡± he said.

¡°The paradox of Professor Miller¡¯s tweet is that some good might come of it. It might be that it raises 바카라사이트 issue of weight bias and promotes some discussion of it.¡±

chris.parr@tsleducation.com