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Is there gender bias in awarding cum laude for the PhD thesis?

Author

Listed:
  • Peter Besselaar

    (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
    DZHW - German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies GmbH
    TMC Research Amsterdam)

  • Charlie Mom

    (TMC Research Amsterdam)

Abstract

In the Dutch academic system, PhD theses can be awarded with cum laude and at most 5% of all PhD graduates receive this selective distinction for their thesis. In this paper, we investigate whether there is gender bias in awarding cum laude, using data from one of the major Dutch research universities. We measure the quality of the PhD theses using bibliometric data. A main result is that the set of PhD theses receiving cum laude on average do not have a higher quality than the best theses not getting cum laude. A second main result is that, after controlling for the quality of the PhD theses, women still have a substantially lower probability to receive cum laude. These results strongly suggest that the distribution of awards suffers from gender bias, and the study creates a strong doubt about the adequacy of the procedures leading to cum laude for the PhD thesis.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Besselaar & Charlie Mom, 2024. "Is there gender bias in awarding cum laude for the PhD thesis?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 129(10), pages 6349-6371, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:129:y:2024:i:10:d:10.1007_s11192-024-04985-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-024-04985-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peter van den Besselaar & Ulf Sandström, 2019. "Measuring researcher independence using bibliometric data: A proposal for a new performance indicator," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(3), pages 1-20, March.
    2. Peter van den Besselaar & Ulf Sandström, 2017. "Vicious circles of gender bias, lower positions, and lower performance: Gender differences in scholarly productivity and impact," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(8), pages 1-16, August.
    3. Stephanie Sardelis & Joshua A Drew, 2016. "Not “Pulling up the Ladder”: Women Who Organize Conference Symposia Provide Greater Opportunities for Women to Speak at Conservation Conferences," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(7), pages 1-20, July.
    4. Pleun van Arensbergen & Inge van der Weijden & Peter van den Besselaar, 2014. "The selection of talent as a group process. A literature review on the social dynamics of decision making in grant panels," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 23(4), pages 298-311.
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