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The Gender-bias Effect of Test Scoring and Framing: A Concern for Personnel Selection and College Admission

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  • Espinosa Maria Paz

    (Facultad de Economía y Empresa, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Avenida Lehendakari Aguirre 83, 48015, Bilbao, Spain)

  • Gardeazabal Javier

    (Facultad de Economía y Empresa, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Avenida Lehendakari Aguirre 83, 48015, Bilbao, Spain)

Abstract

This paper analyzes gender differences in student performance in Multiple-Choice Tests (MCT). We report evidence from a field experiment suggesting that, when MCT use a correction for guessing formula to obtain test scores, on average women tend to omit more items, get less correct answers and lower grades than men. We find that the gender difference in average test scores is concentrated at the upper tail of the distribution of scores. In addition, gender differences strongly depend on the framing of the scoring rule.

Suggested Citation

  • Espinosa Maria Paz & Gardeazabal Javier, 2020. "The Gender-bias Effect of Test Scoring and Framing: A Concern for Personnel Selection and College Admission," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 20(3), pages 1-23, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bejeap:v:20:y:2020:i:3:p:23:n:7
    DOI: 10.1515/bejeap-2019-0316
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    Cited by:

    1. Pau Balart & Lara Ezquerra & Iñigo Hernandez-Arenaz, 2022. "Framing effects on risk-taking behavior: evidence from a field experiment in multiple-choice tests," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 25(4), pages 1268-1297, September.
    2. Montolio, Daniel & Taberner, Pere A., 2021. "Gender differences under test pressure and their impact on academic performance: A quasi-experimental design," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 1065-1090.

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