Thanking the World: Exploring Gender-Based Differences in Acknowledgment Patterns and Support Systems in Theses

TL;DR

This study investigates gender-based differences in acknowledgment patterns in theses, revealing variations in support types and advisor preferences, with implications for fostering inclusivity and gender equality in academia.

Contribution

It introduces a novel RoBERTa-based method to extract support types from theses and highlights gender differences in acknowledgment patterns and advisor preferences.

Findings

Academic and moral support vary significantly by gender.

Advisors tend to supervise same-gender students.

Support patterns can inform inclusive mentoring practices.

Abstract

Research on acknowledgment sections of scientific papers has gained significant attention, but there remains a dearth of studies examining acknowledgments in the context of Electronic Theses and Dissertations. This paper addresses this gap by investigating the sources of support for male and female researchers in completing their master's or doctoral theses, focusing on the discipline of Library and Information Science. We utilize a novel method of extracting the various types of support systems that are acknowledged in 1252 ETDs using RoBERTa-based models. The most prominent forms of support acknowledged by researchers are academic, moral, financial, and religious support. While there are no significant gender-based differences in religious and financial support, the ratio of academic to moral support acknowledged by researchers shows strong gender-based variation. Additionally, advisors display a preference for supervising same-gender researchers. By comprehending the nuances of support systems and the unique challenges faced by researchers of different genders, we can foster a more inclusive and supportive academic environment. The insights gained from this research have implications for improving mentoring practices and promoting gender equality in academia.