The Power of Knowing a Woman Is in Charge: Lessons from a Randomized Experiment

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Dobrescu, Loretti; Motta, Alberto; Shanker, Akshay
• 署名单位: University of New South Wales Sydney; University of Sydney
• 刊物名称: MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0025-1909
• DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.2023.00325
• 发表日期: 2024
• 关键词: education production function; incentives; Gender differences; randomized controlled trial

摘要

As part of a term-long anonymous assessment, thousands of undergraduate university students were divided into groups, each led by a randomly selected peer. The leader's gender had no effect on the assessment's outcomes, but female students led by a female peer achieved 0.26 standard deviations (SD) higher course grades when the gender of the leader was revealed. They also outperformed by 0.22 SD their counterparts in groups in which the leader's gender was revealed to be male. The mechanism involved attempting more difficult practice questions. Our structural estimates suggest this operated via a stereotype threat reversal that reduced anxiety.