National Science Foundation statistics
continue to demonstrate an under representation of women
and members of certain race and ethnic groups in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics
(STEM) fields (NSF 2002). These data show that women and some minorities have
lower salaries,
faculty rank or position, and productivity in terms of the number and quality
of publications.
Much of the prior research is rich with anecdotal evidence that explains the circumstances and conditions of women scientists as they progress in their careers. It suggests that women’s advancement and success depends on early identification of, participation in, and adequate access to, networks. However, it provides insufficient scientific basis to understand how the nuances of networks determine women’s career outcomes in science and engineering. Our research seeks to fill this gap by addressing the research question:
How and why do networks make a difference in the career outcomes of women in STEM careers?
This three-year study applies knowledge from social network theory to explore the architecture and dynamics of formal and informal networks in which women scientists and engineers enter, form, and participate.
Our research addresses the following specific questions:
1. What is the relationship between women scientists’ access to and participation in effective networks and their resulting productivity, faculty rank, organizational position, salary, and job satisfaction?
2. How is the professional advancement of women influenced by their discipline and the characteristics of their networks?
3. Which factors lead to the entry of women scientists in both formal and informal networks?
4. Is access to networks for male scientists significantly different than for female scientists?
5. Which factors predict the active participation of scientists and engineers in both formal and informal networks?
6. Does network participation for male scientists significantly differ from that of female scientists?
The questions above will be addressed in six STEM fields, representing low, medium, and high levels of female saturation in those fields.
The
study
takes a two phase approach:
First, in Spring-Summer 2006 we will administer a mail survey of male
and female scientists in academic departments and government laboratories to
gather unique data on the status of and relationships among network participation,
network access, and career outcomes.
Second, beginning
in the Spring of 2007, we will conduct
a “critical mentor” analysis in order to (1) develop detailed network
maps for selected individuals and their mentees, and (2) collect qualitative
data on their network access and participation. This analysis will allow us to “drill
down” and explore the network relationships in greater detail than a single
mail survey would allow. The second phase of the project will include interviews
to identify network structure and members.
This diagram depicts the mulitple phases of our research project
For generalizability and comparative purposes, the study will include men and women scientists, and minority women scientists. The two-phase research design will provide detailed multi-level quantitative data for statistical modeling and, importantly, rich qualitative evidence that will enhance the quantitative analysis and reveal the intricacies of social network effects on outcomes. Most importantly, the results of these analyses will identify and link the most influential aspects of women’s access and participation in social and professional networks to resulting intrinsic and extrinsic career outcomes.