Factors differentially affecting the evaluation of female and male engineers
Abstract
The primary purpose of this study was to determine if gender differences existed in evaluations of female and male engineers having identical characteristics and experiences. Whether or not such differences existed between sexes, the investigation was further designed to reveal any differences in evaluation related to various characteristics of the evaluator such as age and managerial experience. A sample of 270 engineering managers, then employed in 25 different organizations, was used. One case study of an engineer, varying in sex (male or female) and level of experience (six or 15 years), was distributed to each subject in the sample. Subjects were asked to give ratings to the engineer in the case study for the information contained in each of 13 paragraphs. In addition, evaluators were asked to indicate the role they would assume if supervising the engineer in the case study, their recommendation for the engineer's next assignment and their recommendation for salary corresponding to that assignment. Results of this research indicated few statistically significant differences in the evaluations given to male and female engineers. Where differences were evident, they were most often higher for the female engineer. Trends were present in the interaction between the gender of the evaluatee and the age of the evaluator, the experience of the evaluator as an engineering manager, the number of females supervised by the evaluator, whether or not the evaluator has a wife or daughter in a non-traditional career and the self-rating of the evaluator on the Personnel Attributes Questionnaire. However, few of these interactions were statistically significant. No consistent difference was reported related to supervisor's role and next position or salary recommended. Responses to open-ended questions indicated no gender difference in perceived strengths, but some differences related to weaknesses perceived and additional information desired by the evaluator.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Shertzer, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Management
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