A/Prof Lisa A. Williams
@lisawilliams.bsky.social
Associate Professor @UNSW Sydney | social psychologist and affective scientist | positive emotions, wellbeing, prosocial behavior | #womeninSTEM & #equity advocate | she/her | views my own
And the full write-up is available as a preprint on the
OSF. The manuscript is currently under peer review.
osf.io/jyq2f
OSF. The manuscript is currently under peer review.
osf.io/jyq2f
OSF
osf.io
January 19, 2024 at 4:34 AM
And the full write-up is available as a preprint on the
OSF. The manuscript is currently under peer review.
osf.io/jyq2f
OSF. The manuscript is currently under peer review.
osf.io/jyq2f
If you'd like to read the research brief, you can download it here:
womeninstem.org.au/wp-content/u...
womeninstem.org.au/wp-content/u...
womeninstem.org.au
January 19, 2024 at 4:33 AM
If you'd like to read the research brief, you can download it here:
womeninstem.org.au/wp-content/u...
womeninstem.org.au/wp-content/u...
This work was led by Dr Isabelle Kingsley with research assistance from Amanda Chan and Nicholas Ho. Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith and I round out the research team.
We thank the participating organisations for their contributions to this research.
We thank the participating organisations for their contributions to this research.
January 19, 2024 at 4:32 AM
This work was led by Dr Isabelle Kingsley with research assistance from Amanda Chan and Nicholas Ho. Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith and I round out the research team.
We thank the participating organisations for their contributions to this research.
We thank the participating organisations for their contributions to this research.
Future research examining cultural, racial, and other biases will be key to refining equity efforts in the STEM research sector.
January 19, 2024 at 4:32 AM
Future research examining cultural, racial, and other biases will be key to refining equity efforts in the STEM research sector.
Our research extends existing evidence on the efficacy of anonymisation of the peer review process in promoting equitable outcomes, including NASA's Dual-Anonymous Peer Review System:
science.nasa.gov/researchers/...
science.nasa.gov/researchers/...
Dual-Anonymous Peer Review (DAPR) - NASA Science
Introduction NASA’s Science Mission Directorate is strongly committed to ensuring that the review of proposals is performed in an equitable and fair manner. To this end, SMD will evaluate proposals ...
science.nasa.gov
January 19, 2024 at 4:31 AM
Our research extends existing evidence on the efficacy of anonymisation of the peer review process in promoting equitable outcomes, including NASA's Dual-Anonymous Peer Review System:
science.nasa.gov/researchers/...
science.nasa.gov/researchers/...
By enhancing success rates for early career researchers, anonymisation may create a positive ripple effect in the career pipeline, diversifying the research pool, and supporting the broader issue - retaining and advancing researchers facing barriers in STEM research.
January 19, 2024 at 4:30 AM
By enhancing success rates for early career researchers, anonymisation may create a positive ripple effect in the career pipeline, diversifying the research pool, and supporting the broader issue - retaining and advancing researchers facing barriers in STEM research.
In sum, we found that anonymising applications for scientific equipment can enhance early-career researchers' chances of success. Since no prior gender gap existed in our data, anonymisation wouldn't be expected to impact gendered outcomes. Our results confirm this.
January 19, 2024 at 4:30 AM
In sum, we found that anonymising applications for scientific equipment can enhance early-career researchers' chances of success. Since no prior gender gap existed in our data, anonymisation wouldn't be expected to impact gendered outcomes. Our results confirm this.
In relation to the analysed data, we use the term 'women' for gender data classified as female and 'men' for gender data classified as male. We acknowledge the limitations of the binarisation of a nonbinary construct.
January 19, 2024 at 4:29 AM
In relation to the analysed data, we use the term 'women' for gender data classified as female and 'men' for gender data classified as male. We acknowledge the limitations of the binarisation of a nonbinary construct.
Gender data provided by these entities included female, male, and indeterminate. Because applications for which the lead investigator gender was classified as indeterminate (n=4) were only present before anonymisation, we could not study the impact of anonymisation on this group.
January 19, 2024 at 4:29 AM
Gender data provided by these entities included female, male, and indeterminate. Because applications for which the lead investigator gender was classified as indeterminate (n=4) were only present before anonymisation, we could not study the impact of anonymisation on this group.
ATNF applied ‘semi-anonymisation’ by using first initials and surnames for names, removing affiliations, shifting the applicant list to the last page, and arranging it alphabetically to conceal the lead investigator’s identity.
January 19, 2024 at 4:27 AM
ATNF applied ‘semi-anonymisation’ by using first initials and surnames for names, removing affiliations, shifting the applicant list to the last page, and arranging it alphabetically to conceal the lead investigator’s identity.
AAT, ACNS, and NCMAS required applicants to anonymise their applications by excluding names and affiliations in the application text, using third-person language, and providing team expertise and background in a separate document.
January 19, 2024 at 4:26 AM
AAT, ACNS, and NCMAS required applicants to anonymise their applications by excluding names and affiliations in the application text, using third-person language, and providing team expertise and background in a separate document.
These entities were:
- Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT)
- Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering (ACNS)
- Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF)
- National Computational Merit Allocation Scheme (NCMAS)
- Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT)
- Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering (ACNS)
- Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF)
- National Computational Merit Allocation Scheme (NCMAS)
January 19, 2024 at 4:26 AM
These entities were:
- Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT)
- Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering (ACNS)
- Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF)
- National Computational Merit Allocation Scheme (NCMAS)
- Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT)
- Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering (ACNS)
- Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF)
- National Computational Merit Allocation Scheme (NCMAS)
Curious about our data? Our dataset contained 4,582 applications and their outcomes (3,348 from rounds before anonymisation, and 1,231 from rounds after anonymisation was implemented) from four Australian entities that allocate access to specialised scientific equipment.
January 19, 2024 at 4:26 AM
Curious about our data? Our dataset contained 4,582 applications and their outcomes (3,348 from rounds before anonymisation, and 1,231 from rounds after anonymisation was implemented) from four Australian entities that allocate access to specialised scientific equipment.
Finding 3: Anonymisation generally maintained the existing gender equity landscape, barring one case of improved success rates for women-led applications and not men-led applications following anonymisation.
January 19, 2024 at 4:25 AM
Finding 3: Anonymisation generally maintained the existing gender equity landscape, barring one case of improved success rates for women-led applications and not men-led applications following anonymisation.
Finding 2: There was a noteworthy absence of gender differences in application scores, success rates and allocated resources before anonymisation at all organisations.
January 19, 2024 at 4:25 AM
Finding 2: There was a noteworthy absence of gender differences in application scores, success rates and allocated resources before anonymisation at all organisations.
Here, we highlight three key findings:
Finding 1: Anonymisation boosted success rates for applications led by early career researchers and decreased success rates for more senior-career researchers at one of the organisations, irrespective of the applicant’s gender.
Finding 1: Anonymisation boosted success rates for applications led by early career researchers and decreased success rates for more senior-career researchers at one of the organisations, irrespective of the applicant’s gender.
January 19, 2024 at 4:24 AM
Here, we highlight three key findings:
Finding 1: Anonymisation boosted success rates for applications led by early career researchers and decreased success rates for more senior-career researchers at one of the organisations, irrespective of the applicant’s gender.
Finding 1: Anonymisation boosted success rates for applications led by early career researchers and decreased success rates for more senior-career researchers at one of the organisations, irrespective of the applicant’s gender.
It's getting harder and harder to pick favorites here, but I'll wrap up with this one -- my first foray into sharing the science around gender equity in the public sphere. And it's true: merit doesn't solve bias, gender or otherwise!
theconversation.com/the-problem-...
theconversation.com/the-problem-...
The problem with merit-based appointments? They're not free from gender bias either
No matter whether it’s targets or quotas, “merit” is always held up as the stalwart gold standard. But can we judge merit without bias? And is merit really the right measure for ability anyway?
theconversation.com
October 17, 2023 at 5:52 AM
It's getting harder and harder to pick favorites here, but I'll wrap up with this one -- my first foray into sharing the science around gender equity in the public sphere. And it's true: merit doesn't solve bias, gender or otherwise!
theconversation.com/the-problem-...
theconversation.com/the-problem-...
Who didn't love Inside Out?! Another piece emphasizing that wellbeing is more than just happiness, including a bit round of up research supporting that premise.
theconversation.com/inside-out-s...
theconversation.com/inside-out-s...
Inside Out shows well-being isn't just about chasing happiness
Pixar’s new film, Inside Out, shows that chasing happiness along won’t necessarily bring well-being, which is a view backed by the latest psychological research.
theconversation.com
October 17, 2023 at 5:51 AM
Who didn't love Inside Out?! Another piece emphasizing that wellbeing is more than just happiness, including a bit round of up research supporting that premise.
theconversation.com/inside-out-s...
theconversation.com/inside-out-s...
Thank you, thank you, thank you! This piece covered some new work (at the time) on the benefits of expressing gratitude - since echoed by the work of other affective scientists and social psychs including Sara Algoe and Sonja Lyubomirsky.
theconversation.com/more-than-wo...
theconversation.com/more-than-wo...
More than words: saying 'thank you' does make a difference
Most of us were taught that saying “thank you” is simply the polite thing to do. But recent research in social psychology suggests that saying “thank you” goes beyond good manners – it also ...
theconversation.com
October 17, 2023 at 5:49 AM
Thank you, thank you, thank you! This piece covered some new work (at the time) on the benefits of expressing gratitude - since echoed by the work of other affective scientists and social psychs including Sara Algoe and Sonja Lyubomirsky.
theconversation.com/more-than-wo...
theconversation.com/more-than-wo...
Do you feel like what you do matters? In this article, I covered some of the science on meaning in life including research and work by Andrew Steptoe, Laura King, Michael Steger and many more.... theconversation.com/having-a-sen...
Having a sense of meaning in life is good for you – so how do you get one?
Don’t pursue happiness as a goal, instead make sure what you do from day to day provides a sense of meaning in life.
theconversation.com
October 17, 2023 at 5:45 AM
Do you feel like what you do matters? In this article, I covered some of the science on meaning in life including research and work by Andrew Steptoe, Laura King, Michael Steger and many more.... theconversation.com/having-a-sen...