本科生性别多样性与科学研究方向
Undergraduate Gender Diversity and the Direction of Scientific Research
American Economic Review · 2025 · [{"name": "Francesca Truffa", "affiliation": ["University of Michigan", "Ross School"]}, {"name": "Ashley Wong", "affiliation": ["Tilburg University"]}]
中文摘要
多样性能否促使科学研究更多地关注科学领域中代表性不足的群体？1960年至1990年间，美国76所全男性大学转型为男女同校。利用广义双重差分（DID）设计，我们发现男女同校使性别相关研究论文数量增加了44%。这一增长主要由聚焦女性研究对象和性别差异的研究所驱动。男女同校虽然带来了人员构成上的变化——女性研究人员及关注性别议题的研究人员有所增加，但增长的大部分仍源于原有男性研究人员将研究重点转向性别相关议题。研究结果支持这样一种观点：与更多元化的学生和同侪互动是其中的关键潜在机制。(JEL I23, J16, O31, O34)
Abstract
Can diversity lead to greater research focus on populations underrepresented in science? Between 1960 and 1990, 76 all-male US universities transitioned to coeducation. Using a generalized difference-in-differences design, we find that coeducation led to a 44 percent increase in gender-related research publications. This increase is driven by research focused on female subjects and gender differences. While coeducation led to a compositional shift with more women and researchers interested in gender topics, much of the increase comes from male incumbent researchers shifting their research focus toward gender-related topics. The results support interaction with more diverse students and peers as key underlying mechanisms. (JEL I23, J16, O31, O34)