J E Ward1, N Donnelly. 1. Central Sydney Area Health Service Needs Assessment and Health Outcomes Unit, NSW. jward@nah.rpa.cs.nsw.gov.au
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess whether there is gender bias in the allocation of research fellowships granted by the Research Fellowships Committee of the National Health and Medical Research Council. DATA SOURCES: Anonymous data from applications for a research fellowship from 1994 to 1997. RESULTS: More men than women apply for research fellowships (sex ratio, 2.5:1), but there is no difference in the proportion of male or female applicants who succeed in their application. Among new applicants, men tend to apply for a higher level of fellowship than women. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of data about the numbers of eligible men and women means that we cannot draw conclusions about self-selection biases among potential applicants. However, the selection procedures of the Committee appear to be unbiased. The gender of applicants does not influence the outcome of their application.
OBJECTIVE: To assess whether there is gender bias in the allocation of research fellowships granted by the Research Fellowships Committee of the National Health and Medical Research Council. DATA SOURCES: Anonymous data from applications for a research fellowship from 1994 to 1997. RESULTS: More men than women apply for research fellowships (sex ratio, 2.5:1), but there is no difference in the proportion of male or female applicants who succeed in their application. Among new applicants, men tend to apply for a higher level of fellowship than women. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of data about the numbers of eligible men and women means that we cannot draw conclusions about self-selection biases among potential applicants. However, the selection procedures of the Committee appear to be unbiased. The gender of applicants does not influence the outcome of their application.
Authors: Matthew R E Symonds; Neil J Gemmell; Tamsin L Braisher; Kylie L Gorringe; Mark A Elgar Journal: PLoS One Date: 2006-12-27 Impact factor: 3.240