Last part of the lecture: That data runs counter to the assumption used by the Reichhardts that the fraction of Asian scientists seeking their first N.S.F. grant is more than twice that of whites. That assumption is “unreasonably high, to the point where it is not plausible or reasonable,” said Aradhna E. Tripati, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, and one of the authors of the eLife paper. Dr. Chen and her colleagues said that the increase in Asians among science and engineering faculty members more likely reflected the retirements of predominantly white professors who were hired decades ago. “I wish we had the data instead of relying on assumptions,” Dr. Chen said. “We have tried to make it very clear this isn’t the end of the story.” Officials often debate for years the causes of racial disparities in scientific funding, and what changes they should make. As part of an effort to address bias in its review process, the National Institutes of Health, the federal agency that supports American biomedical research, commissioned a study that was published in 2011 that found that proposals by Black researchers were funded at much lower rates than those of white researchers. The racial disparities in N.I.H. research grants persisted largely unchanged for years. But the N.I.H. numbers have improved recently. The funding rate for Black researchers jumped in the past two years, and in 2021, it nearly matched those for Hispanic and Asian researchers. The funding rate for white scientists remains higher than for the other groups. The number of Black and Hispanic scientists applying for N.I.H. grants has risen sharply over the past decades, although the numbers are still small. At the National Science Foundation, the paper by Dr. Chen and her colleagues may already be having an effect. Dr. Knoedler said a new program called Analytics for Equity would launch this month, asking researchers to propose projects that would investigate diversity data at the N.S.F. and other federal agencies. “It’s an invitation for high-quality research that really engages conversations with the federal agencies,” Dr. Knoedler said. At a meeting last month, the National Science Board, which sets policy for the National Science Foundation, voted to establish a commission to study N.S.F.’s review process. One reason that Steven H. Willard, chairman of the board’s committee on oversight, cited for the commission was “internal and external reports of racial disparities in merit review.” Questions 1. What is the causal question that the article is trying to answer? 2. What is the implicit research design? 3. How do the authors want to interpret their findings? 4. What are alternative explanations to disparate treatment?
Last part of the lecture:
That data runs counter to the assumption used by the Reichhardts that the fraction of Asian scientists seeking their first N.S.F. grant is more than twice that of whites. That assumption is “unreasonably high, to the point where it is not plausible or reasonable,” said Aradhna E. Tripati, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, and one of the authors of the eLife paper.
Dr. Chen and her colleagues said that the increase in Asians among science and engineering faculty members more likely reflected the retirements of predominantly white professors who were hired decades ago.
“I wish we had the data instead of relying on assumptions,” Dr. Chen said. “We have tried to make it very clear this isn’t the end of the story.”
Officials often debate for years the causes of racial disparities in scientific funding, and what changes they should make.
As part of an effort to address bias in its review process, the National Institutes of Health, the federal agency that supports American biomedical research, commissioned a study that was published in 2011 that found that proposals by Black researchers were funded at much lower rates than those of white researchers.
The racial disparities in N.I.H. research grants persisted largely unchanged for years.
But the N.I.H. numbers have improved recently. The funding rate for Black researchers jumped in the past two years, and in 2021, it nearly matched those for Hispanic and Asian researchers. The funding rate for white scientists remains higher than for the other groups.
The number of Black and Hispanic scientists applying for N.I.H. grants has risen sharply over the past decades, although the numbers are still small.
At the National Science Foundation, the paper by Dr. Chen and her colleagues may already be having an effect.
Dr. Knoedler said a new program called Analytics for Equity would launch this month, asking researchers to propose projects that would investigate diversity data at the N.S.F. and other federal agencies.
“It’s an invitation for high-quality research that really engages conversations with the federal agencies,” Dr. Knoedler said.
At a meeting last month, the National Science Board, which sets policy for the National Science Foundation, voted to establish a commission to study N.S.F.’s review process. One reason that Steven H. Willard, chairman of the board’s committee on oversight, cited for the commission was “internal and external reports of racial disparities in merit review.”
Questions
1. What is the causal question that the article is trying to answer?
2. What is the implicit research design?
3. How do the authors want to interpret their findings?
4. What are alternative explanations to disparate treatment?
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