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The Neurosociologial Approach to Gender Bias in STEM Careers

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2018, BA, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Sociology and Criminology.
The lack of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers is a commonly discussed issue in the 21st century. This inequality has lessened in life science professions over the years, but little progress has been made in math-intensive fields. Much research has been conducted focusing on the societal beliefs about gender and mathematical ability that contribute to the disparity. This thesis uses a combination of sociology and neuroscience, or “neurosociology,” to obtain a fresh perspective on gender bias in STEM careers. Electroencephalography (EEG) and event-related potential (ERP) analysis provide insight into the subconscious, neurological activity that signals bias. The feedback-related negativity (FRN) is a specific ERP component that encodes unfavorable, unexpected events, including social expectancy violations. Results from a small pilot study reveal that the FRN was larger when male, undergraduate math majors viewed images of women performing tasks in STEM-related settings compared to when they viewed images of women performing domestic tasks. A larger study is needed to confirm a neurological foundation for a `glass ceiling’ that prevents women from entering STEM careers, particularly those that are math intensive.
Will Kalkhoff (Advisor)
Kristen Marcussen (Committee Member)
Candace Bowen (Committee Member)
Suzanne Holt (Committee Member)
22 p.

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Citations

  • Mazzola, B. T. (2018). The Neurosociologial Approach to Gender Bias in STEM Careers [Undergraduate thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1525709719265255

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Mazzola, Bridget. The Neurosociologial Approach to Gender Bias in STEM Careers. 2018. Kent State University, Undergraduate thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1525709719265255.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Mazzola, Bridget. "The Neurosociologial Approach to Gender Bias in STEM Careers." Undergraduate thesis, Kent State University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1525709719265255

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)