Consider double-blind reviewing or separate streaming of applications to strive for equitable success rates
We are all biased. What can we do? The ALBA Declaration on Equity & Inclusion advises to implement unbiased selection, hiring, and assessment, by considering double-blind reviewing or separate streaming of applications to strive for equitable success rates. This article provides useful tips & resources on best practices about equitable reviewing processes.
Issues
Equality aims to ensure that everyone gets the same things in order to enjoy full, healthy lives. Equality aims to promote fairness and justice, but it can only work if everyone starts from the same place and needs the same things. Equity involves trying to understand and give people who have unique backgrounds and experiences what they need to be able to start from a level playing field so that equal treatment will be fair and just.
Suggested actions
- To strip away any unfair advantage conferred by gender or race, consider double-blind reviewing.
- Acknowledging that circumstances are not equal, fair and just for all candidates, consider two streams of application reviews to ensure reaching targets.
- Hide names and identifying characteristics in applications.
- Redact any clues as to the person’s gender, ethnicity, or physical attributes (e.g. Captain of Women’s Tennis Team)
Resources
Data:
- Mapping the maze: getting more women to the top in research -- Discussion of the targets vs quotas concept in EU countries (see section §3.2), Women In Research Decision Making (WIRDEM) (EU)
Examples of best practices:
- A Gratifying First Step Toward Achieving Gender Equity in Neuroscience, Society for Neuroscience Neuronline
- Distinguishing between equity and equality, SGBA Sex- and gender-based analysis (SGBA) Atlantic Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health, Nova Scotia (CA)
- Double-Blind Peer Review Guidelines, Journal Elsevier
- Blind hiring process, Glassdor for employers
- Guidelines for Organizing a Diverse Conference; the ALBA Network
