Perceived differences in confidence and ability of females: the role of human resources

Abstract

Drawing on data from 65 undergraduate students in a college level Database Systems course, this study explores potential differences between men and women students in terms of their confidence to perform well prior to the course, their actual performance during the course, and their confidence after the course has concluded. We find that while the confidence level of women is lower than the men prior to the course, the actual performance of both groups during the course, as well as their confidence after the course, are similar to each other. Our study provides evidence that societal socialization and stereotypes may cause women students to believe that they cannot succeed in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects and thus careers. We discuss the implications of our findings for firms seeking gender diversity and we suggest future research ideas.

Keywords:

• Careers
• females
• gender
• STEM
• stereotypes

Data availability statement

The data used for this study are available with the authors, on request, Additional information is provided in the uploaded Appendix A.

Notes

1 https://datausa.io/profile/cip/general-management-information-systems#enrolled_gender

2 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2019 American Community Survey, and U.S. Census Bureau, 2014 American Community Survey. For more information, see https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Pettis Kent

Pettis Kent, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Supply Chain Management in the Quinlan School of Business, Loyola University Chicago. His research analyzes the efficacy of strategies within public and private sector organizations. He also studies how organizations effectively manage supply chain knowledge within/between firms.

Abhishek Sharma

Abhishek Sharma is a Clinical Professor of Information Systems at the Quinlan School of Business at Loyola University Chicago. Parallel with his consulting work and teaching, he researches statistics, artificial intelligence, forecasting, data architecture, and machine learning.

Mary Malliaris

Mary Malliaris is a Professor of Information Systems in Loyola University Chicago’s Quinlan School of Business, and Chair of the Information Systems & Supply Chain Management Department. Her research and teaching interests are in statistics, databases, data mining and analytics.

Nenad Jukic

Nenad Jukić is a Professor of Information Systems at the Quinlan School of Business at Loyola University Chicago. Dr. Jukić conducts research in various information management–related areas, including database systems, data warehousing, analytics, Big Data, and IT strategy. His work has been published in numerous journals, conference publications, and books.

Arup Varma

Arup Varma (PhD, Rutgers University) is Distinguished University Research Professor and the Frank W Considine Chair in Applied Ethics at the Quinlan School of Business, Loyola University Chicago (USA). Dr. Varma’s research interests include performance appraisal, expatriate adjustment, and HRM issues in India.