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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 8, 2026

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

Published on: January 12, 2018

Explaining Underrepresentation: A Theory of Precluded Interest.

Sapna Cheryan, Victoria C Plaut

|October 9, 2010

Summary

Perceived similarity to peers best explains why women are underrepresented in science, math, and engineering (SME) fields and men in humanities. Addressing social perceptions can help diversify academic fields.

Area of Science:

Social Sciences
Psychology
Sociology

Background:

Gender disparities persist in Science, Math, and Engineering (SME) fields, with women being underrepresented.
Conversely, men are underrepresented in humanities fields like English.
Understanding the social processes driving these underrepresentations is crucial for promoting diversity.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the social predictors of underrepresentation in both male-dominated (computer science) and female-dominated (English) academic fields.
To identify the key mediating factors influencing students' interest in these fields.

Main Methods:

Two survey studies were conducted at two U.S. West Coast universities.
Participants (N=62; N=614) were surveyed on social predictors such as perceived similarity, social identity threats, and expectations of success.

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Measuring Neural and Behavioral Activity During Ongoing Computerized Social Interactions: An Examination of Event-Related Brain Potentials

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Last Updated: Jun 8, 2026

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

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The Joint Effect of Social Comparison and Social Distance on Evaluation of Intertemporal Choice Outcomes in Event-related Potential Studies

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Measuring Neural and Behavioral Activity During Ongoing Computerized Social Interactions: An Examination of Event-Related Brain Potentials

Measuring Neural and Behavioral Activity During Ongoing Computerized Social Interactions: An Examination of Event-Related Brain Potentials

Published on: November 15, 2014

Main Results:

Perceived similarity to individuals within a field emerged as the strongest mediator for both women's lower interest in computer science and men's lower interest in English.
Social identity threats and expectations of success were less influential compared to perceived similarity.

Conclusions:

Perceived similarity is a critical factor in academic field choice and contributes significantly to gender-based underrepresentation.
Interventions aimed at altering students' social perceptions and increasing their sense of belonging in underrepresented fields may enhance diversity.