# The Enduring Gender Gap in STEM: A Meta-Analysis of Gender Differences in Self-Efficacy in STEM Fields

## TL;DR

This study finds that gender differences in self-efficacy vary across STEM fields, with larger gaps in computer science and physics.

## Contribution

The study provides a field-specific meta-analysis of gender differences in STEM self-efficacy, highlighting underrepresented fields.

## Key findings

- Gender differences in self-efficacy were found in all but one STEM field.
- Computer science and physics showed the largest gender gaps in self-efficacy.
- Educational stage may influence the magnitude of gender differences in self-efficacy.

## Abstract

Women have made substantial gains in representation in some STEM fields (e.g., biology, chemistry, math) but not others (e.g., physics, computer science, engineering). Researchers have called for a STEM field-specific approach to investigate the persistent gender gap. While some studies indicate that males report higher self-efficacy than females, which may contribute to the persistent gender gap, other studies do not. The current research used Hunter–Schmidt meta-analysis to clarify the relationship between gender and self-efficacy in STEM fields where women are underrepresented compared to fields where representation has improved. A meta-analysis of 145 effects found gender differences in self-efficacy in all but one field (biology), but the magnitude of the difference was field-specific. In computer science and physics, two fields in which underrepresentation most strongly persists, there were greater gender differences in self-efficacy compared to the other fields. Findings also highlight participant educational stage as a potentially important factor in explaining heterogeneity of gender differences in self-efficacy within STEM fields and as an area for continued research.