Skip to main content
Log in

Gender differences in research productivity: A bibliometric analysis of the Italian academic system

  • Published:
Scientometrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The literature dedicated to the analysis of the difference in research productivity between the sexes tends to agree in indicating better performance for men. Through bibliometric examination of the entire population of research personnel working in the scientific-technological disciplines of Italian university system, this study confirms the presence of significant differences in productivity between men and women. The differences are, however, smaller than reported in a large part of the literature, confirming an ongoing tendency towards decline, and are also seen as more noticeable for quantitative performance indicators than other indicators. The gap between the sexes shows significant sectorial differences. In spite of the generally better performance of men, there are scientific sectors in which the performance of women does not prove to be inferior.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abramo, G., D’Angelo, C. A. (2007), Measuring science: Irresistible temptations, easy shortcuts and dangerous consequences. Current Science, 6: 762–766.

    Google Scholar 

  • Abramo, G., D’Angelo, C. A., Pugini, F. (2008), The measurement of Italian universities’ research productivity by a non parametric-bibliometric methodology. Scientometrics, 76: 2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blackburn, R. T., Behymer, C. E., Hall, D. E. (1978), Research notes: Correlates of faculty publication. Sociology of Education, 51: 132–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonaccorsi, A., Daraio, C. (2003), Age effects in scientific productivity. The case of the Italian National Research Council (CNR), Scientometrics, 58(1): 49–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CIVR (2006), Comitato di indirizzo per la Valutazione della Ricerca, Valutazione Triennale della Ricerca Italiana: VTR 2001-2003, http://vtr2006.cineca.it.

  • Cole, J. R., Zuckerman, H. (1984), The productivity puzzle: persistence and change in patterns in publication of men and women scientists. Advances in Motivation and Achievement, 2: 217–258.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickson, V. A. (1983), The determinants of publication rates of faculty members at a canadian university. Canadian Journal of Higher Education, 13(2): 41–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox, M. F. (1983), Pubblication productivity among scientists: a critical review. Social Studies of Science, 13(2): 285–305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fox, M. F. (2005), Gender, family characteristics, and publication productivity among scientists. Social Studies of Science, 35(1): 131–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gander, J. P. (1999), Faculty gender effects on academic research and teaching. Research in Higher Education, 40(2): 171–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hyde, J. S., Linn, M. C. (1988), Gender differences in verbal ability: A meta-analysis, Psychological Bulletin, 104: 53–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hyde, J. S., Fennema, E., Lamon, S. J. (1990), Gender differences in verbal ability: A meta-analysis, Psychological Bulletin, 107: 139–155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kyvik, S. (1990), Motherhood and scientific productivity. Social Studies of Science, 20: 149–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leahey, E. (2006), Gender differences in productivity: research specialization as a missing link. Gender and Society, 20(6): 754–780.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S., Bozeman, B. (2005), The Impact of Research Collaboration on Scientific Productivity, Social Studies of Science, 35(5): 673–702.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lemoine, W. (1992), Productivity patterns of men and women scientists in Venezuela, Scientometrics, 24(2): 281–295.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Linn, M. C., Peterson, A. C. (1985), Emergence and characterisation of sex differences in spatial ability: A meta-analysis, Child Development, 56: 1479–1498.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Long, J. S. (1987), Problems and Prospects for Research on Sex Differences in the Scientific Career. In: L. S. Dix (Ed.), Women: Their Underrepresentation and Career Differentials in Science and Engineering, National Academy Press. 157–169.

  • Moed, H. F. (2002), The impact factors debate: the ISI’s uses and limits. Nature, 415, 731–732.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moravcsik, M. J. (1985), Applied scientometrics: an assessment methodology for developing countries. Scientometrics, 7(3–6): 165–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pripić, K. (2002), Gender and productivity differentials in science. Scientometrics, 55(1): 27–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramsden, P. (1994), Describing and explaining research productivity. Higher Education, 28: 207–226.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stack, S. (2004), Gender, Children and research Productivity. Research in Higher Education, 45(8) 891–920.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UE, (2006), Women and science-statistic indicators, SHE FIGURES 2006

  • Voyer, D., Voyer, S., Bryden, M. P. (1995), Magnitude of sex differences in spatial ability: A meta-analysis and consideration of critical variables, Psychological Bulletin, 117: 250–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weingart, P. (2004), Impact of bibliometrics upon the science system: inadvertent consequences? In: H. F. Moed, W. Glänzel, U. Schmoch (Eds), Handbook on Quantitative Science and Technology Research. Dordrecht (The Netherlands), Kluwer Academic Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xie, Y., Shauman, K. A. (1998), Sex differences in research productivity: new evidence about an old puzzle. American Sociological Review, 63: 847–870.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xie, Y., Shauman, K. A. (2003), Women in Science: Career Processes and Outcomes, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and London, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xie, Y., Shauman, K. A. (2004), Women in science: career processes and outcomes (review), Social Forces, 82(4): 1669–1671.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zainab, A. N. (1999), Personal, academic and departmental correlates of research productivity: a review of literature. Malaysian Journal of Library & Information Science, 4(2): 73–110.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giovanni Abramo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Abramo, G., D’Angelo, C.A. & Caprasecca, A. Gender differences in research productivity: A bibliometric analysis of the Italian academic system. Scientometrics 79, 517–539 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-007-2046-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-007-2046-8

Keywords

Navigation