An Experimental Investigation of Gender Bias in the Use of Management Information

ABSTRACT

In a previous study (Estes & Hosseini, 1988), we found that women report lower confidence than men in their investment decisions. As a continuation of that research, this study investigated the effect of gender (management and staff) on management confidence in forecasts prepared by corporate staff. An experiment was administered in a large manufacturing firm to 122 managers who use forecast information. Forecaster gender, age, education, and experience were varied between control and test groups. Manager confidence in forecast information was not affected by the gender of the forecaster or by other forecaster characteristics. Confidence was affected by manager education and experience but not by other personal manager characteristics including gender.