We all know how important it is to have diversity in the workplace and to limit our own unconscious biases. In academic research it’s equally important to have diversity and try to avoid bias so that findings are generally valid. I’ve recently finished reading Caroline Criado-Perez’s book ‘Invisible Women’. This book contains stark messages of how data bias creeps into research, with sometimes devastating consequences. (E.g. Crash test dummies have male body weight, men and women have different heart attack symptoms but male symptoms are taught as typical, and many other examples.)
So it is with this in mind that I am trying to avoid data bias creeping in to my own research into the imposter phenomenon. To reduce any impact in the data from differing industry sectors, I’m focusing on the finance and insurance industries. But sadly an unwanted even narrower focus is creeping in to my data as far more women than men are coming forward to volunteer to take part in the study. I have interviewed some amazing people so far, but all of them, bar one, have been women.
So if you are male or non-binary and work in finance or insurance, would you consider taking part in my research? It consists of a 15 minute online questionnaire, which may be followed up by an optional interview that lasts no longer than an hour. More information about the study, and the online survey itself, can be found here: https://lnkd.in/dnteYYG, or you can contact me for more information at kate@kateatkin.com
If you are female, work in finance or insurance, and would like to take part, you are, of course, very welcome to take the survey – the bigger the sample size the more reliable the findings. Also, if you know someone else who would be interested, please feel free to forward the information about this study.
Many thanks
#avoidingbias #datacollection #PhD
#impostersyndrome which really should be #imposterphenomenon !