Kugler, Adriana D.; Tinsley, Catherine H.; Ukhaneva, Olga
Researchers: Adriana D. KuglerCatherine H. TinsleyOlga Ukhaneva
University Affiliation: Georgetown University
Email: ak659@georgetown.edu
Research Question:
The authors investigate whether women are more sensitive to grades than men, and whether the gender composition of major-related classes affects major changes. They also control for other factors that may affect a student's final major including: high school student performance, gender of faculty, and economic returns of majors. Finally, they examine how students' decisions are affected by external cues that signal STEM fields as masculine.
Published: Yes
Journal Name or Institutional Affiliation: IZA Institute of Labor Economics
Journal Entry:
Year: 2017
Findings:
– High school academic preparation, faculty gender composition, and major returns have little effect on major switching behaviors, and women and men are equally likely to change their major in response to poor grades in major-related courses.
– Women in male-dominated majors do not exhibit different patterns of switching behaviors relative to their male colleagues.
– Women are more likely to switch out of male-dominated STEM majors in response to poor performance compared to men.
– It takes multiple signals of lack of fit into a major (low grades, gender composition of class, and external stereotyping signals) to impel female students to switch majors.