Understanding the work experience of women faculty in nontraditional fields: Bayesian modeling of the 1993, 1999, and 2004 NSOPF data

This study used an innovative data analysis technique to identify the major factors that make the work experience of women in nontraditional fields distinctively different from their male colleagues and to investigate the changes of gender inequity over time. Using national data sets collected in 1993, 1999, and 2004, three objectives are fulfilled: 1) establishing a baseline model using the 1993 data that identifies personal and professional factors underlying gender disparity; 2) testing the generalizability of the baseline model by applying it to the 1999 and 2004 data; and 3) examining the similarities and differences of the models among the 1993, 1999, and 2004 samples and identifying the major inequity factors. The major findings reported include differences in perception of gender equity and number of refereed publications between men and women faculty. © 2011 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved