The Genius is a Male: Stereotypes and Same-Sex Bias in Exam Grading in Economics at Stockholm University

Joakim Jansson and Björn Tyrefors

No 1362, Working Paper Series from Research Institute of Industrial Economics

Abstract: We use the random allocation of graders to different exam questions at Stockholm University to evaluate the existence of same-sex bias in exam correction. We find evidence of same-sex bias before anonymous exams were introduced. Notably, once anonymous grading was in place, the effect disappears. When separating the effects by grader´s sex, both groups of graders favor male students, although male graders favor male students to a larger extent than female graders. Again, after anonymous grading was introduced, the effect disappears. There is no evidence of compositional changes across the pre-and post-anonymous grading regimes. In sum, our finding is consistent with theories of stereotyping, e.g., the genius being male.

Keywords: Grading bias; University; Discrimination; Education; Anonymous grading; Same-sex bias (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I23 J16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 17 pages
Date: 2020-10-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eur, nep-exp and nep-gen
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hhs:iuiwop:1362

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