Scientific bias in favor of studies finding gender bias (metascience)

[C C]

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/...ender-bias

INTRO: My prior two posts reviewed every study I could find addressing the issue of gender bias in peer-reviewed science. The first one laid out some general principles and pointed out that the answers provided were a bit more complex than one might assume or expect. The second listed and briefly described every study of gender bias in peer review that I could find. If you want details, including full references, for the studies referred to here, please go to that second essay. The key findings from that second essay are that there was far more evidence of egalitarian or pro-female bias than there is of pro-male bias. Those findings were reported in several summary tables, and you should refer to that essay for more, but here is one:

[Image: sex_gender_bias_papers_updated_0.jpg?itok=vYTOMbFO]

(Source: Lee Jussim)

This essay explores a related issue. Although there is evidence of bias against women, there is far more evidence that peer review is unbiased and/or favors women. Nonetheless, much of the discussion and rhetoric, even among scientists, emphasizes bias against women. Many physicists are certain that pro-male bias is a serious problem. So is the American Association of University Women. So were many of the attendees at the conference sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, as I reported here and here.

"The University of Oregon is arguing in court that there is no gender bias in STEM anymore. I am embarrassed to work for people who would stand behind this." This is a quote by a prominent social psychologist on Twitter, with a link to yet another academic appalled at such a suggestion.

Why is there such rhetoric and such certainty? There may be many explanations, but the one I explore here is bias. Not gender bias, but scientific bias. In short, it is quite clear that papers finding bias against women receive far more scientific attention than do papers finding no bias or biases favoring women. Let's explore the evidence for that strong claim... (MORE)