Scholars Offer Solution To “Persistent” Bias In Academia; Group’s Research Published In ‘Science’

SARATOGA SPRINGS — To address gender, racial and ethnic bias in academia, scholars at Skidmore College, Yale and Leiden universities have recommended specific, rigorous interventions that lead to positive outcomes. The researchers, led by Skidmore Assistant Professor of Psychology Corinne Moss-Racusin, include John F. Dovidio, Victoria L. Brescoll, Mark J. Graham and Jo Handelsman of Yale University; and Jojanneke van der Toorn of Leiden University. The group’s work is detailed in a paper published in the current issue of Science magazine. “Our previous work has demonstrated that persistent, subtle biases undermine the career advancement of promising female and racial minority scientists, as well as the diversity of the scientific workforce and the advancement of the scientific enterprise more broadly,” said Moss-Racusin. “To target these pernicious biases, we need carefully designed, systematically tested, and rigorously implemented interventions,” Moss-Racusin said. “Unfortunately, although many diversity interventions have been in place for decades, few have been thoroughly evaluated to determine whether they effectively reduce biases and increase diversity. We argue that researchers must take a scientific approach to the development, assessment, and implementation of diversity interventions.”