Gender and the evaluation of research

Brooks, C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2668-1153, Fenton, E. M. and Walker, J. T. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3477-0236 (2014) Gender and the evaluation of research. Research Policy, 43 (6). pp. 990-1001. ISSN 0048-7333 doi: 10.1016/j.respol.2013.12.005

Abstract/Summary

This study examines if and how gender relates to research evaluation via panel assessment and journal ratings lists. Using data from UK business schools we find no evidence that the proportion of women in a submission for panel assessment affected the score received by the submitting institution. However, we do find that women on average receive lower scores according to some journal ratings lists. There are important differences in the rated quality of journals that men and women publish in across the sub-disciplines with men publishing significantly more research in the highest rated accountancy, information management and strategy journals. In addition, women who are able to utilise networks to co-author with individuals outside their institution are able to publish in higher-rated journals, although the same is not true for men; women who are attributed with “individual staff circumstances” (e.g. maternity leave or part-time working) have lower scores according to journal ratings lists.